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Can Anyone Help with a Norwegian Rhyme with the Line, “Kan du gleme gammel Norge”?

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

David Russett wrote:

I’m trying to find the words to a Norwegian rhyme or song. The only part I know goes something like:

Kan du gleme gammel Norge?
O vey! Ya, ya, gleme kan!

Or it may be:

Kan du huske gammel Norge?
Ove! Ya, Ya, huske kan!

Does anyone know the rest of this little rhyme? Some of the old Norwegians when I was a kid knew this and would recite it. I know there is much more to it that those two lines.

If anyone can help David with the Norwegian words and/or an English translation to this song, please let us know in the comments below.

Thanks!

Mama Lisa

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Posted in Children's Songs, Countries & Cultures, Languages, Norway, Norwegian, Norwegian Children's Songs, Norwegian Nursery Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Readers Questions | 2 Comments »

The Origins of Some Scandinavian Toe Naming Rhymes

Wednesday, December 13th, 2006

Julie and Beth wrote looking for the origins of two Scandinavian rhymes that are played with little kids while touching their toes. We’re wondering if anyone’s ever heard of these rhymes and perhaps knows what country they’re from and/or anything else about their origins. Here’s what Julie wrote:

I have been searching for the origin of a nursery rhyme that my friend said to her kids. The child has his/her shoes off and starting with the little toe, she names the toes:

Little Pea (little toe)
Peter Lou (next toe)
Oosey Nossey (next toe)
Toosey tossey (next toe)
And a Great Big Oppososso (big toe)

I am not sure of the spelling. However, the University of Wisconsin Children’s Library assures me that this toe rhyme has Scandinavian roots. They said: Scandinavia is known for naming toe rhymes.

Please help me, I have been searching the origin of this toe playing game for years with my friend’s blessing. My friend is Scandinavian and she doesn’t remember where she heard this toe playing game. I assume that she heard it as a child.

Julie

Beth Bookschlepper wrote in looking for the origin of a similar rhyme:

I know this as…

Little Pea,
Penny Rou,
Judy Whistle,
Mary Tossle,
And Big Tom Bumble.

I am also interested in its origins.

If anyone can help, or would like to share other similar rhymes, please comment below.

Thanks!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Danish, Danish Nursery Rhymes, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Icelandic, Languages, Norway, Norwegian, Norwegian Nursery Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, Questions, Rhymes by Theme, Sweden, Swedish, Swedish Nursery Rhymes, Toe Naming Rhymes | 59 Comments »

Questions about Norwegian Songs/Rhymes “Comin a man” and “Panneben”

Sunday, May 7th, 2006

Jennifer wrote…

My mom’s Norwegian father taught her two little ditties and I would love to know if we have them correct and what the correct spelling is. I’m going to spell phonetically…

Comin a man
Loppin a stoppin
Ca-sis ta-baggin
ta-bick-en ta-boose (tickle, tickle)

and

Panabene (point to forehead)
Oyestene (point to eyes)
Nasatip (point to nose)
Monalip (point to lip)
Hagafip (point to chin)
(tickle under chin

Thank you! Jennifer – granddaughter of Tobias Trygsland

Please comment below if you can help Jennifer.

Thanks!

Lisa

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Norway Page for Norwegian songs and rhymes.

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Languages, Norway, Norwegian, Norwegian Nursery Rhymes, Nursery Rhymes, Questions | 15 Comments »

St. Knut’s Day means it’s time to Have a Party and Throw out your Christmas Tree!

Thursday, January 12th, 2006

St. Knut’s Day is a holiday celebrated in Sweden, Finland and Norway, on January 13th. The day is called Tjugondag Knut in Sweden, which means 20th day Knut. In Norway it’s called Tyvendedagen, which I believe, is 20th day.

On St. Knut’s Day, they say they “plunder” the Christmas tree. If there are edible ornaments on the tree, they eat them. If there weren’t any on the tree, sometimes they’ll put them there for the kids to take off and eat. It’s an incentive to take off all the other decorations and get rid of the tree. Then kids dance around the tree singing.

In Sweden they sing…

Tjugondag Knut dansas julen ut. (Swedish)

Knut’s 20th day (St. Knut’s Day) dances Christmas away. (English)

Sometimes it’ll be longer…

På Tjugondag Knut dansas julen ut och då plundras och kasseras granen. (Swedish)

At St. Knut’s day, dance Christmas away and then plunder and scrap the spruce tree. (English)

After which, they either throw out the tree, or chop it up and use it as fire wood.

In Norway, they say a similar rhyme…

Sante Knut og jaga jula ut. (Norwegian)

St. Knut chases Christmas away. (English)

Sometimes there are also carnivals for St. Knut’s day.

***

A little history behind the holiday…

King Canute (circa 994 – 1035) was a Viking who was also known as Knut and Knud. He was king of England, Denmark, and for a while Norway and part of Sweden.

Early on, when he took over England, he was merciless to prisoners, he cut off their noses, ears and hands. Later, he repented for what he had done. To make up for his cruelty, he joined the church and tried to create peace and justice in his land. Under his rule, there was peace for 18 years. (Although, he may have been responsible for some political murders. )

One of the laws he made, while he was king, was that the Christmas season would last 20 days, and that no one should fast during that time. Thus the holiday season would end on January 13th. That’s the day that’s come to be known as St. Knut’s Day.

***

If anyone knows any other St. Knut’s Day songs, rhymes or traditions, please comment below.

Happy St. Knut’s Day!

Lisa

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Posted in Countries & Cultures, Denmark, Finland, Holiday Songs, Holidays Around the World, Languages, Norway, Norwegian, Norwegian Nursery Rhymes, St. Knut's Day - Tjugondag Knut, St. Knut's Day Songs, Sweden, Swedish, Swedish Children's Songs, Swedish Nursery Rhymes | 5 Comments »

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Archive for the 'Norwegian Nursery Rhymes' Category

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Posts

Can Anyone Help with a Norwegian Rhyme with the Line, “Kan du gleme gammel Norge”?

The Origins of Some Scandinavian Toe Naming Rhymes

Questions about Norwegian Songs/Rhymes “Comin a man” and “Panneben”

St. Knut’s Day means it’s time to Have a Party and Throw out your Christmas Tree!