07/06/2008 12:53 PM

Can Someone Help with a Ukrainian Rhyme That Sounds Like, “Pitchoo Pitchoo Bopkoo”?

Suzy wrote… I wonder if anyone can help me find the meaning to this silly rhyme. I was a little kid when my grandmother used to do this thing with my head in her hands and it phonetically sounded like this (I don’t speak or understand Ukrainian) : Pitchoo Pitchoo bopkoo Sedjoonella bobkoo shi shoolapitch, shi shoolapitch, shi [...]

05/19/2008 09:29 AM

Looking for a Russian Child’s Finger Play

Sue sent us this question: Does anyone know a Russian child’s finger play that goes something like this: saroka verona na pripchke sidela .... .... (with each finger): tsmudila, tsmudila, tsmudila; tsmudila: aye tsmudila My grandmother used to play this with me and I’d like to pass it on to my granddaughter. Thanks. If anyone can help Sue out, please comment below or email [...]

05/04/2008 09:00 PM

Looking for Specific Translation to Tum balalaika

Tum balalaika is a Yiddish folk song. John Ringo wrote me that he was looking for help finding a version from his childhood that’s different than the one we have posted (click the link for our version). Here’s what he wrote… I was actually looking for a set of lyrics to this I remember [...]

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 [...]

02/20/2008 02:30 PM

Elaborately Decorated Eggs for Easter In Eastern Europe

Guest Blogger, Ed Gawlinski, has been involved in many cultural organizations throughout his life. Here, he discusses Easter traditions in several Eastern European cultures. A common custom is to color hard boiled eggs for Easter. We usually colored them on Good Friday, while eating hot cross buns… Hot cross buns, Hot cross buns, one ha’ penny, two [...]

02/19/2008 01:39 PM

Can Anyone Help with a Ukrainian or Russian Song about a Butterfly?

My friend Marijka, whose family is from Ukraine, is looking for the full words to a childrens song that her grandmother used to sing to her when she was young. It’s about a butterfly. She’s not sure if it’s originally Ukrainian or Russian. Marijka recorded for me the part she knows. Click here [...]

07/31/2007 06:03 PM

Can Someone Help with a Russian or Yiddish Rhyme with the Word “Meesala” or “Misala” In It?

Sharon wrote: Hi, I am hoping that someone out there remembers an old game that mothers, grandmothers, aunts and friends used to play with little ones. I think the rhyme is either Russian or Yiddish. The baby’s hand is held palm up and the mother points her finger into the middle of the child’s hand and says, [...]

07/29/2007 12:58 PM

Can Anyone Help with the Words to a Russian Lullaby?

Edie Rosen wrote: Does anyone know the history of the lullaby, My Pigeon House? I would suspect it’s Russian… my grandmother sang it to us when we were little, and she would be way past 100 yrs old today. I sang it to my kids and we are now singing it to my grandchildren. It’s so [...]

04/14/2007 03:08 PM

Can Someone Help with a Russian or Ukrainian Song?

I recently received this email: My mom who was an orphan remembers her dad (from the Ukraine) singing a song that sounds like “estonya monya ti la zuka; estonya monya lo bi…” can anyone relate? If anyone can help with this song, please comment below, or email me. Thanks! Lisa

04/04/2007 08:35 PM

Question about a Russian Kids Song about Tiptoeing through Strawberry Fields

Christine Clemmons wrote me… I have a friend, Renee, who is Russian-American. She is pregnant and due in June. She has told me a few times a story about her Great-Grandfather, who was Russian. He used to sing/say to her when she was a baby something like… Russian Transliteration “Huts-ka, Huts-ka Naya Huts-ka” English Translation “Tiptoe through the strawberry [...]