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Pennsylvania Dutch Version of Dies Ist der Daumen – This Is the Thumb

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

I’ve been asked several times for the Pennsylvania Dutch Version of the German rhyme Dies Ist der Daumen – This Is the Thumb. Today I received the version below thanks to Luke and Mary Martin. Here’s what Luke wrote…

My wife and I are also familiar with many of the German songs. This morning while looking for them, I found the finger rhyme, and your question about the Pennsylvania German variation. This is the song my father used to sing to us – seven children. Pennsylvania German has many varieties of spelling, and perhaps you can sharpen up the spelling. (My wife, Mary, and I worked at the pronunciation and spelling of the Pennsylvania German Finger Song. Mary grew up speaking Pennsylvania German.) Here it goes…

Des ist die Daume

Des ist die Daume
Der schittelt die Plaume
Der laest sie ouf
Der traught sie Haem
Und des glae Bopplemaul
Bopplet alles mit’n ahnna da Haem.

This is the thumb.
This [one] shakes the plums,
This [one] picks them up,
This [one] brings them home,
And this little tattletale tells everyone at home.

It was always spoken, not sung.

Thanks for your work in collecting old songs.

Luke Martin
(Pennsylvania)

If anyone would like to give other variations of the spelling, feel free to in the comments below. Many thanks to Luke Martin for sending this version of the rhyme to us!

Enjoy!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Des ist die Daume, Dies Ist der Daumen, Finger Plays, German, German Nursery Rhymes, Germany, Languages, Mama Lisa, Nursery Rhymes, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Dutch, Pennsylvania Dutch, Pennsylvania Dutch Nursery Rhymes, Questions, USA, USA | 1 Comment »

Can Anyone Help with a Rhyme with the Line “Round a Bit”? (It may be originally Polish.)

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Lynda wrote looking for help with a rhyme…

I hope that you can help me with an old rhyme of sorts. It is spoken softly as to calm a child said while making small circles on a child’s skin and then traveling up and starting all over. We can only remember part of it, this is what we can recall:

“Round a bit, round a bit, round a bit” repeating as often as you make the small circles with your finger on the child’s skin.
Then while traveling up the arm or leg or etc… “Up a bit, up a bit”, stopping and starting the small circles again.

We seem to remember something about a “wee little mouse”.

Does any of this ring a bell to you? The lady who used to do this was of Polish decent if that helps.

Thank you,

Lynda Dull,

If anyone can help with this rhyme, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, England, English, English Nursery Rhymes, Finger Plays, Great Britain, Languages, Mama Lisa, Nursery Rhymes, Poland, Polish, Polish Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, USA | 6 Comments »

Does Anyone Know an Italian Nursery Rhyme about Sheep or Lambs Playing around a Well?

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Grace wrote to me asking for help with a childhood rhyme…

Hi Lisa,

My name is Grace, and when I was little, my Nana used to recite me a nursery rhyme in Italian. I think it was about sheep or lambs that were playing around a well.

When she would recite it to me, she would circle my palm with her finger and then wiggle my fingers one by one. I have been searching the internet for what seems like forever and I can’t find anything about this, and it’s leading me to believe that perhaps she had made it up just for me. However, she has Alzheimer’s so she hasn’t been able to help me, and members of my family remember her doing this but they don’t remember the words, only what it was about. Thank you so much for your time, and I hope that perhaps you’ll be able to provide me with an answer.

Again, thank you!
Grace

If anyone can help Grace with any info about this rhyme, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks in advance…

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Italian, Italian Nursery Rhymes, Italy, Languages, Mama Lisa, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions | 8 Comments »

Can Someone Help with a Swedish or English Nursery Rhyme?

Monday, September 15th, 2008

Ronnie wrote:

My Father and uncle used to put us on their knees and bounce us and say this rhyme. Something about a fox. I don’t know if they were speaking Swedish or English (and pronouncing the words badly)…

“A raven come a walkin
a balkin, a talkin a piddlee peekin.”

They’d start down at our bellies and work their hand up under our chins.

Have you ever heard of this?

Thank you for your time,
Ronnie Larson

If anyone can help out with any information about this rhyme and/or provide the words to it, please comment below.

Thanks in advance!

Lisa

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Posted in Australia, British Children's Songs, Canada, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, English Children's Songs, English Nursery Rhymes, Finger Plays, Great Britain, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Sweden, Swedish, Swedish Children's Songs, Swedish Nursery Rhymes, USA | 7 Comments »

Recording of Russian Rhyme

Tuesday, August 26th, 2008

We just added a recording of the Russian finger play Magpie-Magpie – Сорока-Сорока to Mama Lisa’s World’s Russian Song Pages. Click the link for the lyrics, translations and mp3 recording.

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Languages, MP3 Recordings, MP3's, Mama Lisa, Recordings of Nursery Rhymes, Russia, Russian, Russian Children's Songs | 2 Comments »

Lap Rhymes to Play with Babies

Thursday, July 24th, 2008

I received a letter from Hungary from Mrs. Török looking for English rhymes to play with children sitting on laps. She wrote that she’s looking for “British, American or Canadian short riddles or rhymes which we don’t have to sing but they can be played while the children are sitting on the mothers’ legs. These rhymes would be played with babies.”

This Little Piggy is probably the most well-known rhyme that people do with babies in the English speaking world.

This Little Piggy

This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,
This little piggy ate roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went…
“Wee wee wee wee wee”
All the way home…

As you say each line you wiggle each of the baby’s toes, starting with the big toe and wiggling each toe until you’ve done all five. On the last two lines you tickle the child up the leg – as if the “piggy” is running home.

Listen to This Little Piggy Went to Market

Round and Round the Garden is especially popular in England…

Round and Round the Garden (also known as Teddy Bear)

Round and round the garden…
(Run your index finger around child’s palm.)
Like a teddy bear.

One step, two step…
(Walk your fingers up the child’s arm.)

Tickle you under there!
(Tickle under armpit!)

Open, Shut Them is popular in the US…

Open, Shut Them

Open, shut them.
Open, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap.

Open, shut them
Open, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap.

Creep them, creep them,
Creep them, creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin.

Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in.

Open and close your hands when you sing “Open, shut them” and then follow the words to the song and make the corresponding hand movements while you sing. On “do not let them in” hide your hands behind your back.

Listen to Open, Shut Them

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes is popular around the world. Children point to each body part as they are listed. Older kids usually point by themselves. On babies, you can help them touch each part with their hands…

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes,
And eyes and ears and mouth and nose,
Head and shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.

Listen to Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

How Big is Baby

This is a simple game where you say “How big is (Child’s name)?” Then in a high voice you answer, “So big!” while gently putting the baby’s arms up in the air.

Little kids love that one.

Here’s one to recite while gentle tapping the bottom of the baby’s feet…

Shoe a Little Horse

Shoe a little horse,
Shoe a little mare,
But let the little colt go
Bare, bare, bare.

Here’s one to say while gently touching the different parts of the baby’s face…

Brow brinky

Brow brinky,
Eye winky,
Chin choppy,
Nose noppy,
Cheek cherry,
Mouth merry.

With the above rhyme you can touch the baby’s hand to your face while you wiggle your brows, wink your eyes, move your jaw up and down, wriggle your nose, blow out your cheeks and smile.

While saying the following rhyme you can help the child make the associated motions…

Two Little Hands Go Clap, Clap, Clap

Two little hands go clap, clap, clap,
Two little feet go tap, tap, tap,
Two little legs kick high, high, high,
Two little lips go kiss, kiss, kiss,
Two little arms go hug, hug, hug,
Two little arms wave bye, bye, bye.

If anyone would like to add any lap rhymes in the comments below, we’d love to learn more!

Enjoy and have fun!

Mama Lisa

UPDATE: Check out my next post for Horse Trotting Rhymes to Play with Older Kids!

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Posted in American Nursery Rhymes, Australia, Canada, Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, England, English, English Nursery Rhymes, Finger Plays, Great Britain, Hand Clapping Rhymes, Languages, Lap Rhymes, Mama Lisa, Nursery Rhymes, Parenting, Rhymes by Theme, USA | 3 Comments »

Can Someone Help with a Ukrainian Rhyme That Sounds Like, “Pitchoo Pitchoo Bopkoo”?

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

Suzy wrote…

I wonder if anyone can help me find the meaning to this silly rhyme. I was a little kid when my grandmother used to do this thing with my head in her hands and it phonetically sounded like this (I don’t speak or understand Ukrainian) :

Pitchoo Pitchoo bopkoo
Sedjoonella bobkoo
shi shoolapitch, shi shoolapitch, shi shoolapitch

Many thanks, Suzy

If someone can also send the Ukrainian text, that would be great! If anyone can help in any way, please comment below, or email me.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian | 6 Comments »

Can Anyone Help with Some Hungarian Rhymes?

Saturday, June 28th, 2008

Christine Winegar wrote me…

I am not sure where to begin. I am not looking for songs exactly. I really don’t know what to call them. If you know what I am talking about, I would love the English and Hungarian translation like you have on your web site. Here it goes!

My mom has been gone for 13 years now and my youngest never knew her. (He just turned 11). He keeps asking me to teach him this little thing she used to do on my hand.

The first one is easy. You start by holding the thumb, and work your way through each individual finger until you get to the pinky. It is like “This Little Piggy” except it makes sense. I am sorry, I can’t write in Hungarian, but the English translation is something like this… I think:

This one went hunting;
This one killed it;
This one took it home;
This one cooked it;
This little bitty one ate it all.

I can’t remember all the Hungarian words.

The second one I am looking for is harder. Instead of fingers, my mom would “draw” circles on my palm. She ended up going up my arm
until she tickled my neck. The first words I think were nonsensical. At least I have not found them in online dictionaries, but like I said, I can’t write Hungarian.

The “story” is about a priest making dinner and his (or a cat) ate it. (And they caught the cat by my neck usually). I am going to further embarrass myself by trying to write our what I remember to see if you recognize it. Here it goes:

Beszere, Beszere;
Mit fuszte Kasara;
something about a pokotzskaja;
hova let a Pap tszitszia;
ara szalat, ara szalat;
It foktak a tszitsza, tszitsza.

As I have built up the nerve to write to you, I am remembering more bits of my childhood. Hinta, Palinta,… Something about 2 soldiers fighting, and jumping into the dunabe. And one more if you don’t mind,…. Volt edgszer edgy kemensze. Something dirty a little boy climbs into, and gets so dirty his mom doesn’t recognize him. She locks the thing up, and spanks him.

If it makes a difference, my mom was from Hatvan. She left Hungary to avoid Russian retaliation. Does any of this stuff sound familiar to you? I am afraid that over time I have lost the words and the meanings, and now my children are interested, and I am afraid I won’t be able to pass on my heritage to them.

Thank you for all you time and effort.
Christine, in California
p.s. I recognized some of your songs, like the Crow one. It was fun to see it, but again I had forgotten a lot of the words.

Thanks again.

Response from Mama Lisa:

Dear Christine,

The first rhyme you asked about that’s like “This Little Piggy” may be Ez elment vadászni – This One Has Gone Shooting. You can check the link and see of that’s the one you’re looking for – please let us know in the comments below if that’s it. We have the words to Hinta, palinta. Click the link and you’ll get to the lyrics, English translation, tune and score.

If anyone can help Christine with any of her other questions, please comment below or email me.

Thanks in advance!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Hungarian, Hungary, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions | 7 Comments »

Looking for a Russian Child’s Finger Play

Monday, May 19th, 2008

Sue sent us this question:

Does anyone know a Russian child’s finger play that goes something like this:

saroka verona
na pripchke sidela
….
….

(with each finger): tsmudila, tsmudila, tsmudila; tsmudila: aye tsmudila

My grandmother used to play this with me and I’d like to pass it on to my granddaughter.
Thanks.

If anyone can help Sue out, please comment below or email me.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Russia, Russian, Russian Children's Songs | 7 Comments »

Does Anyone Know of Hand Gestures That Go with the 12 Days of Christmas?

Sunday, December 23rd, 2007

Rich Berrett wrote:

Growing up I recall hearing the 12 days of Christmas accompanied by hand gestures for each day… when I googled that issue it referred me to your site with this notation.. “The Twelve Days of Christmas actually start on Christmas and go up to the …. As with many children’s songs, there are different hand gestures that can be. . .” when I went to the link however I cannot find the remainder of the entry… I would love to find the gestures to teach my grandchildren. Any suggestions? Thanks for all you do. Rich

I think the Google entry must have been referring to two different blog posts.

Would anyone know of gestures that go with the 12 Days of Christmas? I’d love to learn them too!

Please comment below if you can help out. Thanks in advance!

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in American Kids Songs, Australia, British Children's Songs, Children's Songs, Christmas, Christmas Songs, Countries & Cultures, English, Finger Plays, Great Britain, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Questions, Readers Questions, The Twelve Days of Christmas, USA | 2 Comments »

Can Someone Help with a Sicilian Hand Game Possibly about a Lamb?

Monday, October 29th, 2007

I recently received this question:

My grandfather used to play a hand game with me where he held my hand and with his finger made a circle in my palm, then put each of my fingers down, starting with the pinky. I can only say it phonetically as I do not speak Sicilian:

Catcja funtanedja
chifigi pecoredja
quisto lu fersja
quisto lu scorcha
quisto lu coche et
quisto lu mange
um um um um um

In English I think it said:

Here’s a little pond
The little lamb comes to drink
This one catches it
This one cuts it
This one cooks it and
This one eats it
Um um um um um.

Can anyone give me the actual words in Sicilian and tell me if I am right about my English translation?

Please comment below, if you can help out…

Thanks in advance!

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Games, Italy, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Patty Cake Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Sicilian, Sicily | 5 Comments »

Can Someone Help with a Russian or Yiddish Rhyme with the Word “Meesala” or “Misala” In It?

Tuesday, July 31st, 2007

Sharon wrote:

Hi,

I am hoping that someone out there remembers an old game that mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends used to play with little ones. I think the rhyme is either Russian or Yiddish.

The baby’s hand is held palm up and the mother points her finger into the middle of the child’s hand and says, Meesala, Misala, or something like that, while making circles in the child’s palm. As the poem is repeated, the fingers march up the child’s arm and then tickle the back of the neck.

I remember the action and the feeling, but not the poem.

Help! I want to play this with my grandchildren, and my Grandmother played this with me almost 70 years ago.

Any help would be appreciated.

Best,

Sharon

If anyone knows about this rhyme, please comment below or email me.

Thanks!

-Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Israel, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, Russia, Russian, Russian Children's Songs, USA, Yiddish, Yiddish Children's Songs | 14 Comments »

Looking for an Old Czech Rhyme

Saturday, January 20th, 2007

Julie wrote:

I’m looking for the old czech rhyme/finger play ditty my grandma used to play with me. It was about an insect-spider who crawls up (your arm) finds a hole (ear) and crawls in (tickle ear). It phonectically sounds like “broczech leza pludla meza daya jerka tomza leza”.

Ideally, I would like the actual translation to English as well as the Czech words.

Thank you so much, Julie

If anyone can help, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Czech, Czech Republic, Finger Plays, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions | 23 Comments »

Do You Know a Rhyme That Starts… “Head Knocker, Eye Blinker,…”?

Wednesday, January 17th, 2007

Barb wrote:

I am looking for an action poem that has to do with head knocker, eye blinker, nose blower, mouth chewer, chin chopper, gulla gulla gulla…but I cannot remember all of it. Can someone remember for me? I’m getting old in my young age.

Mema

If anyone can help, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Australia, Countries & Cultures, English, Finger Plays, Great Britain, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions, USA | 67 Comments »

Looking for a Polish Finger Play about Five Baby Chicks

Wednesday, January 10th, 2007

Melissa wrote me…

My grandmother is turning 90 and I am putting together a scrapbook. I saw your website and thought maybe you could help me. I am looking for the Polish writing of a hand play my grandmother taught me. It is about a mama chicken who has five baby chicks that she is feeding. She only has enough food for four chicks (four fingers on hand) so she has to throw out (or maybe worse – chop off the head of the fifth?)

It sounds something like this:

Jub a wha cork a sca jep jelk yik pully cha wha screen ya sa thima dowel thima dowel thima dowel thima dowel a pully cok a ja two pierce two cousa (4X) a pulley jus jus a wha (tickle under arm).

Would you know of anyone who might be able to help?

Thanks so much,

Melissa Soule

If anyone can help with these lyrics, please comment below or email me.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Finger Plays, Languages, Nursery Rhymes, Poland, Polish, Questions, Readers Questions | 10 Comments »

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Posts

Pennsylvania Dutch Version of Dies Ist der Daumen – This Is the Thumb

Can Anyone Help with a Rhyme with the Line “Round a Bit”? (It may be originally Polish.)

Does Anyone Know an Italian Nursery Rhyme about Sheep or Lambs Playing around a Well?

Can Someone Help with a Swedish or English Nursery Rhyme?

Recording of Russian Rhyme

Lap Rhymes to Play with Babies

Can Someone Help with a Ukrainian Rhyme That Sounds Like, “Pitchoo Pitchoo Bopkoo”?

Can Anyone Help with Some Hungarian Rhymes?

Looking for a Russian Child’s Finger Play

Does Anyone Know of Hand Gestures That Go with the 12 Days of Christmas?

Can Someone Help with a Sicilian Hand Game Possibly about a Lamb?

Can Someone Help with a Russian or Yiddish Rhyme with the Word “Meesala” or “Misala” In It?

Looking for an Old Czech Rhyme

Do You Know a Rhyme That Starts… “Head Knocker, Eye Blinker,…”?

Looking for a Polish Finger Play about Five Baby Chicks