Kids Songs Around the World with English Translations or French Translations or Spanish Translations

Mama Lisa's World Blog English Nursery Rhymes Mother Goose in French

Wizard of Oz Audiobook Poetry for Kids ML Reviews Mama Lisa's Hub

Archive for the 'Children's Day' Category

Contents

The Japanese Boys’ Festival called “Tango no Sekku”, plus a Song for the Holiday called “Koinobori”

Children’s Day in India – Celebrated on November 14th

Posts

The Japanese Boys’ Festival called “Tango no Sekku”, plus a Song for the Holiday called “Koinobori”

Wednesday, May 3rd, 2006

Tango no Sekku is celebrated on May 5th. In Japan, this day is called Boys’ Festival. It’s been celebrated for over a millennium. Originally it was celebrated in the houses of warriors. It celebrated boys’ courage and determination. Many of the symbols of this day are about having the character of a warrior. Eventually this day became important to all households in Japan with boys.

After WWII, Boys’ Day became toned down. This holiday officially became known as Children’s Day or Kodomo no hi. It’s supposed to be a day to celebrate the health and happiness of all children. But many people still see it as Boys’ Festival.

Large carp windsocks, called koinobori, are displayed outside houses of families with boys. There’s one windsock for each boy in the house. The largest windsock is for the oldest son of the house.

The carp is a symbol of Tango no Sekku, because carp are considered strong and determined. They’re able to swim upstream against the flow of the water. This is a day for families to celebrate their sons’ strength and character.

Warrior dolls and helmets, armor and swords are also displayed in houses with boys.

The symbolic flower of Tango no Sekku is a type of iris called shobu. The shobu has long leaves that resemble swords. Boys traditionally take shobu leaf baths on this day. The shobu is so important on this day that sometimes the festival is called Shobu no Sekku or Iris Festival.

One traditional food eaten on this day is kashiwa mochi. It’s a rice cake steamed with sweet beans and wrapped in an oak leaf. Another traditional food is chimaki, which is rice wrapped in bamboo leaves.

Here’s a traditional song for Tango no Sekku called Koinoburi or Carp Windsocks…

Koinobori
(Japanese Transliteration)

Yane yori takai koinobori.
Okii magoi wa otoosan.
Chisai higoi wa kodomotachi.
Omoshiro soni oyideru.

Carp Windsocks
(English)

Carp windsocks are above the roof.
The biggest carp is the father,
The smaller carp are children,
They’re enjoying swimming in the sky.

Listen to an MP3 of Koinobori and see the sheet music.

I welcome any midis or mp3’s of Koinobori, the Japanese text and also any comments about the traditions of this day.

Come visit the Mama Lisa’s World Japan Page for more Songs from Japan!

Share on Facebook and other services:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Posted in Children's Day, Countries & Cultures, Holidays Around the World, Japan, Japanese, Japanese Kids Songs, Kodomo no hi - Japanese Children's Day, Koinobori, Koinobori - Carp Windsocks, Languages, Shobu no Sekku or Iris Festival, Tango no Sekku - Japanese Boys' Festival, Tango no Sekku - Japanese Boys' Festival Songs | 4 Comments »

Children’s Day in India – Celebrated on November 14th

Sunday, November 13th, 2005

The history of Children’s Day in India, plus a Rhyme called My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed, with an MP3 Recording

Jawaharlal Nehru was born on November 14, 1889. He was the first prime minister of India, after his country gained independence from Britain.

He was extremely outspoken about the importance of children for the future of India. He loved roses and felt that people needed to cultivate children just like roses. And that, above all else, children should be nurtured. Children affectionately called him “Chacha”!

He felt that girls should be given the same opportunities as boys. We can see just how well he put this into practice by viewing the life of his own daughter Indira: she eventually went on the become the third prime minister of India!

His love of children was so well known throughout India, that his birthday was made into a national holiday, “Children’s Day”.

Children’s Day is celebrated mainly in schools and colleges. There’s dancing and singing and contests, and sometimes teachers put on fun performances for their students and give them sweets.

Perhaps best of all for kids is that they’re excused if they don’t do their homework!

I couldn’t find any songs that are specific to Children’s Day, but here’s a fun rhyme from India. It’s called My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed and it’s in the Telugu language, with an English translation below it, and an mp3 recording…

Koti Baavaku Pellanta
(Telugu)

Koti baavaku pellanta
Kondaa konaa vididi anta
Kukka nakkala vindu anta
Enugu vaddana cheyunu anta
Elugu vintha choochunu anta
Kodi, kokila, kaakamma
Koti pelliki paata anta

My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed
(English)

My cousin monkey goes to wed
Hill and dale are well bedecked
Dog and fox have come to dine
Trumpeting elephant’s serving fine
Bear has come to watch the fun
Cock and crow and cuckoo sing
My cousin monkey’s wedding song

MP3 of My Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed – Koti Baavaku Pellanta

Many thanks to Midhun for reciting this rhyme and to Dr. Srinivas Gummaraju for sending it to me with the English translation. Dhanyavaadaalu!

Come visit The Mama Lisa’s World India Page for more Children’s Songs from India.

If anyone would like to send me a song that specific to Children’s Day or any other kids songs from India, please comment below.

Thanks! Lisa

Share on Facebook and other services:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Posted in Children's Day, Children's Songs, Children's Songs from India, Countries & Cultures, Cousin Monkey Goes to Wed - Koti Baavaku Pellanta, Holidays Around the World, India, Languages, MP3 Recordings, MP3's, Monkey Songs, Podcasts, Recordings of Nursery Rhymes, Recordings of Songs, Telugu | 1 Comment »

________

Help Support
Mama Lisa's World!

$5, $10, $25
or any amount welcome!