02/11/2008 12:43 PM

International Student Exchange Programs

Ed Gawlinski, who’s been involved with various cultural organizations throughout his life, sent me this email… I get emails from AFS (American Field Service) from time to time. AFS is an organization that promotes cultural exchange. It was started by members of the United States’ volunteer ambulance corp (American Field Service) who served during [...]

12/29/2007 10:48 PM

Symbolic Foods Eaten Around the World for New Years

In many parts of the world, the foods eaten on New Years Eve and New Years Day have important symbolic meanings. These symbols seem to fall into several major categories. The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. Often, the dish will be round beans, like lentils, [...]

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 [...]

05/03/2007 10:46 AM

New Recordings of French Children’s Songs

We were recently fortunate enough to receive a selection of recordings of French kids songs, sung by a French music teacher, Tiphaine Woerth. Here’s a wonderful recording Tiphaine did of Ainsi Font, followed by the lyrics and an English translation. MP3 of Ainsi Font Ainsi font (French) Ainsi font, font, font Les petites marionnettes Ainsi font font font Trois petits tours Et puis s’en [...]

01/06/2007 08:35 PM

How to Find Sheet Music, Tunes and MP3’s on Mama Lisa’s World

In addition to this blog, I also host Mama Lisa’s World. Mama Lisa’s World is a large collection of children’s songs and rhymes from countries all around the globe. Matt, a music teacher from Rhode Island, wrote a question to me, the other day, about Mama Lisa’s World: Hey Mama, I love the concept of your site. [...]

03/08/2006 04:47 PM

Roti Rösli - Red Roses - A Swiss Song with it’s English Translation

Julie Steiner has been kind enough to answer the request I posted a few days ago for the Swiss song Roti Rösli (Red Roses). Here it is in the original language, with an English translation… Roti Rösli (Swiss German Dialect) Roti Rösli im Garte, Maieriesli im Wald Wänn de Wind chunt choge blase so verwelked si bald Chlini Fischli im Wasser, grossi [...]

03/07/2006 11:16 AM

Looking for the lyrics to a Swiss song called Roti Rosli

Kimberly wrote me… Hello Mama! Actually, there is a very sweet Swiss bedtime childrens’ song called: “Roti Rosli”. My daughter learned this song when she was about 3, and I am trying to find the lyrics in both Swiss and English. How can I find them? Any suggestions? Or do you have them? [...]

01/01/2006 04:03 PM

Recipe for Cheese Fondue

Every year my husband and I make a delicious Cheese Fondue for New Year’s Eve. Years ago we realized that, after the November/December holiday craze, we’re very happy staying home, making a special meal. When my son was little we would start cooking after he went to bed and have a nice romantic [...]

11/11/2005 09:47 PM

The Turnip Fair in Switzerland - Marked by Thousands of Lanterns made out of Turnips!

To celebrate the end of the harvest, people in the Swiss town of Richterswil have a turnip fair called Räbechilbi. The fair takes place every year on the second Saturday in November. Nowadays, they harvest 25 tons of turnips! In honor of the festival they make lanterns out of the turnips. There are [...]