Mama Lisa's Books

Early Cajun Creole Children's Songs & Traditional Songs

Wade Falcon from the blog Early Cajun Music wrote to us from Louisiana about early Cajun Creole Children's Songs and Traditional Songs, starting withthe song Saute Crapaud... Saute Crapaud(Jump Frog). You've uncovered this. You also have “Clementine” on your site, a French song with [...]

The Mardi Gras Festival in Mamou, Louisiana

Tami wrote to us from Mamou in Louisiana about the Mardi Gras Festival that takes place there every year in February... "I was born and raised in Mamou... The Mardi Gras festival came about as a ‘last day before lent; Catholic time of fasting', leading up to Easter. Many Catholics in [...]

What's a lagniappe you ask?

A lagniappe is a small gift a merchant gives a customer... for example, you buy 12 doughnuts and they give you a 13th one free. It's a little unexpected gift from the merchant. The word is pronounced "lanyap" and comes from Louisiana French. Mark Twain refers to it back in 1883 in his [...]

Listen to Cajun French from Louisiana with English subtitles

In this YouTube you can hear Mr. Sonny (aka Mr. Treme) tell a little story about a scarecrow in Cajun French. His family has been in Louisiana since the 1800's. At the end of the video, you can hear the French song “Un petit bonhomme” (A Little Scarecrow). Enjoy! Mama Lisa

The [...]

A Mardi Gras Run Song from Mamou, Louisiana

Yesterday, I wrote about the tradition of The Mardi Gras Run in Southern Louisiana, USA. Each town has it's own version of The Mardi Gras Song or La Chanson de Mardi Gras. The town of Mamou, Louisiana, has a very different version of La Chanson de Mardi Gras. It's believed to have its origins in [...]

The Mardi Gras Run – Let the good times roll!

Mardi Gras, the American version of Carnival has been celebrated in South Louisiana, U.S.A., since around 1755. Mardi Gras literally means “Fat Tuesday” in French. Many people are familiar with the giant Mardi Gras Parade and the other festivities in New Orleans. Much less known are [...]

Can Anyone Help with a Cuban Rhyme/Finger Play that starts with “Chiquitica así”?

Jeannie Backer wrote to us for help with a Cuban Finger Play. Here's her note... My mother from Cuba used to sing a song/rhyme to usthat I only partially remember, maybe you have heard something similar. It's not a song as much as a cute thing that a child says to adult to ask for

The [...]

About the Song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”

We received the note below with the song “Cooma Lotta Veesay”. Many variations of this song exist, including “Kumala Vista”. It also shares lyrics with the action song called “Flee, Fly, Flo“. Here's the email: “In the late 1950s, we lived near a [...]

Does anyone know this version of Catalina Matelina?

Dennis Lytle wrote to us asking for information about a rhyme: “Any info on the rhyme my parents taught us would be appreciated... I tell you bout vat girl of mine vat looks so sveet and dress so fine, vat come from Dootchland on the Rhine a couple of veeks ago. Her eyes are blue [...]