03/13/2008 12:45 PM

Easter Customs in Germany

Christine von Kannen-Balgar sent me this fascinating letter, answering some questions I had about Easter customs in Germany: Dear Lisa, To answer to your e-mail: 1) I’ve never heard of a German custom of eating green eggs on Maundy (Green Thursday) [scroll down to the discussion of Green Dyes to see what Christine is referring to [...]

02/23/2008 03:22 PM

The Symbolism of the Egg

As 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 [...]

12/17/2007 02:58 PM

Another Version of the German Carol Leise rieselt der Schnee - The Snow Quietly Falls

Recently, I posted a German song called Leise rieselt der Schnee (The Snow Quietly Falls), with a YouTube recording. Here is another YouTube recording of this song. This is a video of 2 people singing it in a park. It’s very lively! This version has an additional verse, so I retranslated the whole [...]

12/14/2007 04:31 PM

A German Christmas Song called Leise rieselt der Schnee - Softly Falls Each Snowflake

This German Christmas Carol was written by Eduard Ebel (1839-1905) and translated into English by Loralee Jo Kurzius. You can watch the YouTube video I found where you can hear it sung. Softly Falls Each Snow Flake (English Translation) Softly falls each snow flake Silent and frozen the lake Christmas shimmers from the moon. Rejoice the Christ child comes soon! In [...]

10/30/2007 09:21 AM

Can Anyone Help with Some Swiss German Songs?

Renee wrote: I’m looking for three children’s songs my grandmother sung to me. One was: Here comes the bear, where does he want to go? He wants to go to (name of child)’s house. She would say this in Swiss German. The next was: Rumpity bumpity halter stock, vermind. She would also speak in Swiss German and I am [...]

07/23/2007 11:01 AM

Could Someone Please Check My English Translation of a German Nursery Rhyme?

I received the German nursery rhyme below without an English translation in 2001. I just came across it on my computer. It seemed like such a nice one that I decided to try to translate it. I would greatly appreciate it if a German English speaker could check my English translation below [...]

06/23/2007 01:03 PM

Can Someone Help with an Old German Nursery Rhyme?

I received this email today: I’m wondering if you have info on an old German nursery rhyme? We just returned from a trip to Germany with my elderly mother (American, but German parents), who asked many people about it. Almost everyone knew of it, but no one could remember the words, most of them [...]

06/14/2007 05:21 PM

Can Anyone Help with a German Song/Rhyme that Begins Like Vender kinder klinderzine?

Tami wrote: Mama Lisa, My name is Tami Best and I am looking for some help with a song. I am working on getting the original and English translation to a German children’s song/rhyme that has been passed down from generations. My dad is turing 60 and I am trying to suprise him with this [...]

01/24/2007 01:01 PM

International Scouting Campfire Songs - Can you send us one from your country?

Larraine wrote to me looking for Scouting Campfire Songs from around the world. Here’s what she wrote, followed by my response with some suggested songs and sites to go to for help: Dear Mama Lisa, It has been suggested that I contact you with my request. I am the sketch producer of “The Live Wyre [...]

01/15/2007 08:33 PM

Looking for a German Nursery Rhyme

Mark wrote: I’ve been trying to find out the name of a nursery rhyme my mother used to say to me in the early ‘60s. It was a knee bouncer and she would lean me over backwards during some of the rhyme. I’ll try to write what I remember to give you a hint of what it [...]