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Archive for the 'Spring' Category
Contents
Posts
Signs of Spring in Japan
Monday, March 15th, 2010We don’t have many buds on our trees here in New York yet. It’s just rain, rain, rain. So I found these photos from Japan by Ayako Egawa particularly uplifting this week.
Japanese apricot flowers, Ume.
Crocuses
Ayako wrote, “Mimosa is in full bloom around here.”
Ayako wrote, “I totally agree that these little flowers are full of the cheerfulness of Spring!” Thanks for sharing these photos with us Ayako. It reminds us that the nice weather will be here soon!
If you’d like to share any photos from where you are, feel free to email me at lisa@mamalisa.com .
Mama Lisa
Proverbs about March from Europe
Saturday, March 6th, 2010Monique Palomares works with me on the French and Spanish versions of Mama Lisa’s World. She sent me some proverbs about March from different European countries in response to a post I did about Italian Proverbs about March. Here’s what Monique wrote…
Here are some proverbs in Occitan, Catalan, French, Spanish, Portuguese and German about March.
I chose the “cuckoo” March proverbs on purpose to show that some things cross borders and languages. There’s an Italian proverb that says more or less the same thing about cuckoos, but it’s about April:
A’ cinque d’aprile, il cucco deve venire; se non viene a’ sette o agli otto, o ch’è preso o che è morto.
On April 5th, the cuckoo must come, if it doesn’t come on the 7th or the 8th, either it’s been taken or it’s dead.Occitan Proverbs about March:
(Occitan is the language of the troubadours, spoken in southern France and parts of Italy and Spain.)Quand en març trona, l’annada serà bona .
When it thunders in March, the year will be good.Al mes de març, tan de nívols coma de clars .
In the month of March, as many clouds as clearings.Se plòu en març, adiu lo blat .
If it rains in March, there will be no wheat. (Literally, “Farewell to the wheat”.)Quand març maieja, mai marceja.
When March acts May-like, May acts March-like.. (I like these verbs built on the name of a month and meaning “to act name of the month-like” that exist in Occitan and Catalan.)Entre març e abrial, se lo cocut es pas vengut , es qu’es malaut o s’es perdut!
Between March and April, if the cuckoo hasn’t come, it must be ill or lost.Catalan Proverbs about March:
No hi ha Març que no marcegi, ni boig que no bogegi, ni fill d’ase que no brami.
There’s neither a March that doesn’t act March-like, nor a madman who doesn’t act mad, nor a son of an ass that doesn’t bray. (I like this one!)Pel Març qui no té sabates ja pot anar descalç.
In March, he who has no shoes can now go barefoot.De flor de Març, fruit no en veuràs.
On March flowers, you’ll see no fruit.Si pel març no canta el cucut, ni per l’abril la puput, tant de bo que l’any no hagués vingut.
If by March the cuckoo doesn’t sing, and by April the hoopoe bird doesn’t, the year might as well not have come.French Proverbs about March:
En mars quand il fait beau, prends ton manteau.
In March, when the weather’s fine, take your coat.Soit au début soit à la fin, Mars nous montre son venin.
Either at the beginning, or at the end, March shows us its venom.Mars sec et chaud, remplit caves et tonneaux
A dry and warm March fills cellars and casks.Entre mars et avril, on sait si le coucou est mort ou en vie.
Between March and April, we know if the cuckoo is dead or alive.Spanish Proverbs about March:
Marzo engañador, un día malo y otro peor.
Deceiving March, one day bad and the next one worse.Marzo marcero, por la mañana rostro de perro, por la tarde valiente mancebo.
“Marchy” March, in the morning the face of a dog, in the evening a brave young man..Marzo con lluvias, buen año de alubias.
March with rain, good year for beans.En marzo, la veleta, ni dos horas está quieta.
In March, the weathervane doesn’t keep quiet for even two hours.Si marzo se va y el cuco no viene, o se ha muerto el cuco o el fin del mundo viene.
If March goes away and the cuckoo doesn’t come, either the cuckoo died or the end of the world is coming.Portuguese Proverbs about March:
Se queres bom cabaço, semeia em Março.
If you want a good basket, sow in March.Quem poda em Março, vindima no regaço.
Whoever prunes in March; grapes harvest in his lap.Em Março, cada dia chove um pedaço.
In March, it rains a little every day.Vento de Março e chuva de Abril, vinho a florir.
March wind and April rain; thriving wine.Em vinte cinco de Março, se o cuco não se ouvir, ou é morto ou não quer vir.
On March 25th, if the cuckoo can’t be heard, either it’s dead or it doesn’t want to come.German Proverbs about March:
Nasser März ist Bauernschmerz.
Rainy March is the farmers’ grief.März grün, Jungfrau kühn.
Green March; bold young woman.Märzenschnee Tut der Frucht weh.
March snow wounds the fruit.So remember, in March, even if the weather’s fine, take your coat!
Cheers!
Monique
Daylight Sayings Time – One More Hour of Sunshine
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
Joanne L. Ladd shared her feelings about Daylight Savings Time:
On Sunday March 14 we will go into Daylight Saving Time…
the second Sunday of March
we will set our clocks ahead 1 hour (spring forward)
we will go from EST (Eastern Standard Time)
to EDT (Eastern Daylight Time)
to me…that will be the real world!
and would love to have it just stay there…EDT year round.”I agree with you Joanne! Thanks for sharing the wonderful photo and your thoughts. One more hour of daylight is nearly here.
Mama Lisa
The photo is by Sam Rohn of NYLocations.com.
Marzo e’ Pazzo – March is Crazy!
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010Yesterday, I was talking with a lady, whose parents are from Italy, about how happy I am that it’s finally March. She said, “Why?” I said because February is finally over. She said, “Marzo è pazzo”. It’s an Italian saying meaning “March is crazy”… you can never depend on March weather.
This same saying can be found in an Italian nursery rhyme about the months:
Gennaio con febbraio fa il paio
febbraietto freddo e maledetto,
marzo è pazzo,
aprile dolce dormire,
maggio è paggio,
giugno la falce in pugno,
luglio canta il cuculo,
agosto moglie mia non ti conosco,
settembre la notte al dì contende,
ottobre chi vuole si copre,
novembre all’inverno si arrende,
dicembre, davanti ti ghiaccia
e dietro t’offende.Here’s an English Translation:
January and February are a couple,
Little February, cursed and cold,
March is crazy,
April’s sweetly sleeping,
May is the valet,
June, the scythe in hand,
July, the cuckoo sings,
August, my wife, I don’t know you*,
September, the night fights the day**,
October, whoever wants covers himself up,
November surrenders to winter,
December, freezes you in the front
and batters you on the back.*Meaning that the husband is so busy with work in August that he doesn’t have a minute for his wife.
**Meaning that now the nights will last longer than the days.Here are some interesting Italian proverbs about March (and April) with English translations:
Come marzo s’avvicina, tutti gli umori si risentono.
As March draws near, all moods are affected.Marzo cambia sette cappelli al giorno.
March changes seven hats a day.Marzo ha comprato la pelliccia a sua madre, ma tre giorni dopo l’ha venduta.
March bought the fur coat for his mother, but three days later sold it.Da marzo ad aprile c’è poco da dire.
From March to April there is little to say.Marzo pazzerello guarda il sole e prendi l’ombrello.
Crazy March, look at the sun and take an umbrella.Marzo tinge e Aprile dipinge
March dyes and April paintsNel marzo, un sole e un guazzo
In March, some sun and a puddle.Watch out for that crazy March weather!
Thanks to Monique Palomares of the French version of Mama Lisa’s World for helping with the Italian!
Feel free to share any sayings you know about March, in any language, in the comments below.
Ciao!
Mama Lisa
Does Anyone Know a Short Poem or Rhyme about Spring?
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009Rebeca Garcia Mendoza wrote
Hi! I’m a Spanish girl who is preparing resources to teach English to Spanish children. I’m looking for rhymes about seasons and I have a problem. I cannot find a short one of Spring.
If anybody knows one, please, tell me!
Thanks.If anyone can help out Rebeca, please let us know in the comments below.
Thanks!
Mama Lisa
PS FYI I did find this nursery rhyme riddle about all the seasons:
In Spring I look gay,
Decked in comely array,
In Summer more clothing I wear;
When colder it grows,
I fling off my clothes,
And in Winter quite naked appear.Scroll down for the answer..
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
A tree!
Cherry Blossom Viewing in Japan
Tuesday, April 7th, 2009When the Cherry Blossoms bloom in Japan it’s traditional to go to the park to view the blossoms and have a picnic. Cherry Blossom viewing is called called Hanami. Ayako Egawa generously shared her photos of this years cherry blossom viewing.
Ayako wrote, "We walked under the flow of cherry blossoms in the park. It was beautiful!"
Close up of the cherry blossoms.
Ayako continued, "Lots of people enjoy sitting and eating ‘bento’ (their lunch)."
Ayako wrote, "We hiked along the road hearing the twitter of Japanese Bush Warbler.
I like the feel of spring!"
I asked Ayako what the Japanese Bush Warbler sounds like and she wrote, "Hearing the twitter of the Japanese Bush Warbler is a sign of Spring in Japan. They sing like ‘Whoo Who ket kyo’! It’s a unique twitter." Later Ayako sent me this YouTube video below she found to hear the bird’s tweet.
Ayako wrote, "Small purple flowers in the park. They are pretty."
Ayako wrote, "Cherry blossoms in this school playground are really beautiful! It’s common that there are lots of cherry blossoms in school playgrounds in Japan."
Thanks so much for sharing these great photos with us Ayako!
Check out these posts for more about Cherry Blossom Viewing and Festivals.
You can also hear 2 well known Cherry Blossom Songs on Mama Lisa’s World:
Sakura Sakura – Cherry Blossoms (Song #2)
Enjoy the season and try to see Cherry Blossoms blooming near you if possible. It’s worth the effort.
Mama Lisa
April Poem
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009Here’s an old poem about April by William Watson (1858 – 1936), an English poet…
Song
APRIL, April,
Laugh thy girlish laughter;
Then, the moment after,
Weep thy girlish tears!
April, that mine ears
Like a lover greetest,
If I tell thee, sweetest,
All my hopes and fears,
April, April,
Laugh thy golden laughter,
But, the moment after,
Weep thy golden tears!
Signs of Spring
Friday, March 27th, 2009It’s amazing that people over 5000 years ago knew enough about astronomy and the seasons to create a cave and have specific chambers within it be lit up by the sun only on specific days of the year… specifically on the solstices and equinoxes.
I’m talking about the Loughcrew Megalithic Cairns in Ireland.
Michael from Newgrange.com sent me this:
"At the 5000 year old Loughcrew megalithic cairn T in Ireland, the rising sun on the mornings around the equinox illuminate the passage and chamber."
You can see cairn T being lit up on March 20th of this year in the photo below.
When you stop and think about it, it’s really amazing that mankind was able to work out the placement of the sun in this detail over 5000 years ago!
Check out Signs of Spring the Big Picture to see photos "from Stonehenge and Mayan pyramids to Dutch meadows and Texan beaches" that show different signs Springtime is coming in the northern hemisphere.
Enjoy!
Mama Lisa
Multicultural Songs about the Seasons
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008People often write me looking for songs about the four seasons, from around the world. Here are some! The links below take you to the different pages on Mama Lisa’s World of International Childrens Songs. There, you’ll find the lyrics in the original languages, with English translations.
Songs about Winter
Yuki (Snow) – Japanese
A, a, a, der Winter, der ist da (A, a, a, Winter is Here) – German
La neige tombe (The Snow is Falling) – French from Canada
Zemestoon (Winter) – Persian from Iran
Kış (Winter) – Turkish from TurkeySongs about Spring
La Primavera (Springtime) – Spanish from Peru
Haru Ga Kita (Spring Has Come) – Japanese
De Colores (All the Colors) – Spanish from Mexico & SpainSongs about Summer
Trarira, der Sommer, der ist da! (Tilitum, The Summer Has Come) – German
Songs about Autumn or Fall
Couleurs d’automne (Colors of Autumn) – French
Songs or Rhymes about All Four SeasonsJoereszäiten (Seasons) – Franconian from Lorraine Region in France
Les feuilles (Leaves) – French from CanadaWhen you get to the song pages you can access French and Spanish translations too, and in some cases mp3 recordings, midis and/or scores.
Feel free to add a song about any of the seasons in the comments below or email me.
Mama Lisa
May Celebrations
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008Guest blogger Ed Gawlinski sent me this short post about celebrations in May…
On May 5th a lot of people in the United States are going to have tacos or burritos for lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. On May 5th of 1862 Troops led by Ignacio Zaragoza halted a French invasion of Mexico in the Battle of Puebla.
However, I would also suggest that before that, on May 3rd you plan a dinner of Kiełbasa i Kapusta (sausage and cabbage) to celebrate Constitution Day. In 1791 the Polish Sejm (congress) proclaimed Poland’s first written constitution. This makes Poland the first country in Europe and the second country in the world to establish a government based on a written constitution. The United States was the first and France was the third.
I would also suggest that on May 17th you have some tomatsuppe med macaroni, that would be Norwegian-style tomato soup. On that date in 1814, the Constitution of Norway was signed and the Danish Crown Prince Christian Frederik is elected King of Norway by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly.
The Symbolism of the Egg
Saturday, February 23rd, 2008As Easter approaches, it’s natural to think a little about eggs!
In days gone by the egg, due to its shape, was a symbol of the earth. Thanks to its obvious association with the beginning of life, it has also been the basis of many ancient creation stories. It has been a symbol of fertility, rebirth and the cycle of life. These latter symbols are so close to what Springtime is all about that it’s no wonder it’s been an important part of Spring celebrations since pre-Christian times.
As Europe became Christian, eggs became a symbol of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. In the past, Christians gave up eggs for Lent (the 40 days before Easter when it’s customary to give up different types of food). But even though people didn’t eat them, the hens kept laying them! So people would hard boil and decorate them. This would help preserve them longer and serve as part of the holiday festivities.
The egg is also part of the Jewish Passover holiday that takes place in the Spring. The egg is placed on the Seder plate and is a symbol of sacrifice and loss. Yet to some it also symbolizes the full cycle of life, and therefore hope and rebirth. (The egg is a more recent addition to the Seder plate compared to the other symbolic items that are found there and its symbolic meaning seems to be more open to interpretation.)
In China, red eggs are given out at the one month birthday of a new baby. It’s customary to hold a Red Egg and Ginger Party at this time. Once again, the source seems to be the egg’s role as a symbol of fertility and the beginning of life.
So here we come full circle (or oval) with the egg as a wonderful symbol of birth, renewal and rebirth. This is something wonderful to consider as Springtime approaches in the northern hemisphere, where the Earth will soon come back to life!
Feel free to let us know about any special symbolism of the egg in your culture in the comments below.
A Springtime Song Called “La Primavera” from Peru
Sunday, April 15th, 2007Here’s a nice Peruvian children’s song about the Spring in Spanish followed by an English translation…
La primavera
La primavera
Cantan, cantan por los campos,
Primavera llega ya.
Por los campos viene riendo jaja
Riendo jajajaja
Primavera
Los campos florecen
Las aves aparecen
Sale el sol
Todo es amor
Llegó la primavera
Vestida de flores
Y yo quisiera
Vestirme de mil colores.Springtime
Springtime
They sing, sing in the fields,
Spring arrives at last!
In the fields it comes laughing, ha, ha!
Laughing, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Springtime,
The fields bloom
The birds appear
The sun comes out
Everything is love
Springtime arrives
Dressed in flowers
And I’d like to
Dress in a thousand colors!Many thanks to Anna Carina Morales Peña for sending this song and to Monique Palomares for helping me with the English translation.
If anyone knows the tune to this song, please email me.
Thanks!
Lisa
Spring Chicken Song
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007I’ve established a page where I post questions people have about songs and nursery rhymes. It would be great if you’re able to help answer any of our readers questions.
Occasionally the questions are about songs that are related to current events. Here’s one such question. The song is about Spring!
Hi my name is Vicky and when my daughter was younger she used to sing a song called Spring Chickens, however we can not remember the words. I was hoping you could help me.
Some of the words were:
I’m a real spring chicken and I’m yellow and small,
My feathers are fluffy and they’re keeping me warm.
My legs are not long, so I’m not very tall,
But I’m a real spring chicken and I’m having a ball,
I’m a chicken, I’m a chicken and I’m having a ball.Many thanks,
Vicky
If anyone can help with the lyrics to this song, please comment below.
Thanks and I hope you’re enjoying your Springtime!
Lisa
Don’t Take Your New Parasol Out in the Windy Month of March!
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007Here’s a poem from an anonymous author of an old book called The Infant’s Delight: Poetry. It’s about a little girl who goes out on a windy day in March with her beautiful new parasol, even though her mother tells her not to. Uh-oh! (A parasol is a fancy umbrella, carried to block the sun.)
NAUGH-TY NEL-LY AND HER NEW PA-RA-SOL.
“No, Nel-ly! not to-day, my child!
I can-not let you take it;
This cold March wind, so strong and wild,
Your pa-ra-sol, ‘twould break it!”So said Mam-ma; but Nel-ly thought,
“I will take my new pre-sent:
Tis mine; to please me it was bought;
The wea-ther’s bright and plea-sant.”So naugh-ty Nel-ly sly-ly took
What kind Mam-ma had bought her,
And out she went-and, only look!
The wild March wind has caught her!The silk tore up, the ribs broke out,
In spite of Nel-ly’s sway-ing;
And peo-ple laugh-ed at her, no doubt-
That comes of dis-o-bey-ing.You can find more poems like this one online from The Infant’s Delight: Poetry at Project Gutenberg.
Spring Is Here! Go Away Winter, You Brute!
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007Now that Spring is here – we can all smile – and start bad-mouthing Winter!
Here’s a poem about banishing Winter, called Winter, You’re Just a Brute! Well, that’s my translation of it. It’s originally French. The title in French is Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain ! It was written by Charles d’Orléans (1394-1465).
Below you’ll find my English translation first, followed by a modernized French version, followed by the original poem. At the end you’ll find a link where you can hear the poem recited in French.
Winter, You’re Just a Brute!
Winter, you’re just a brute!
Summer is pleasant and nice,
As proof, May and April,
Who accompany it evening and morn.Summer adorns fields, woods and flowers,
In its coat of greenery
And of many other colors,
By the order of Nature.But you, Winter, are too full
Of snow, wind, rain and hail;
You must be banished into exile,
Without flattering, I speak fairly,
Winter, you’re just a brute!Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain !
(A Modernized Version in French)Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain !
Eté est plaisant et gentil,
En témoin de Mai et d’Avril,
Qui l’accompagnent soir et matin.Eté revêt champs, bois et fleurs
De sa livrée de verdure,
Et de maintes autres couleurs,
Par l’ordonnance de Nature.Mais, vous, Hiver, trop êtes plein
De neige, vents, pluie et grésil.
On vous dût bannir en exil,
Sans point flatter, je parle plain,
Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain.Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain
(Original Version with Older French Spelling)Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain,
Esté est plaisant et gentil,
En tesmoing de May et d’Avril
Qui l’acompaignent soir et main.Esté revest champs, bois et fleurs,
De sa livrée de verdure
Et de maintes autres couleurs,
Par l’ordonnance de Nature.Mais vous, Yver, trop estes plain
De nege, vent pluye et grezil;
On vous deust banie en essil.
Sans point flater, je parle plain,
Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain !
Link to hear Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain ! RecitedLink to Hear Hiver, vous n’êtes qu’un vilain ! Sung
Recipe for Worms in Dirt
Sunday, October 29th, 2006Kimberly sent me this recipe below. It sounds great for Halloween or an outdoors spring or summer party.
Worms in Dirt Recipe
Make a package of chocolate pudding and put store bought candied worms in it. Let it set. Then sprinkle crushed chocolate Oreo crumbs on top. Kids will love worms in dirt.
Even though it’s worms and dirt, it sounds yummy!
Good eatin’!
Lisa
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