December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
When it comes to December, it’s the season that makes you excited and a little restless, with Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and preparations for the New Year.
Especially as kids, there was so much to look forward to—not just Christmas, but winter break and playing in the snow when it fell.
In this article, we’ll introduce children’s songs perfect for this wonderful month of December, along with playful songs everyone can enjoy and traditional nursery rhymes that have long been popular.
Most of these are for children, but there are also moving masterpieces that resonate deeply with adults.
Try listening while feeling the crisp air outside, or while staying cozy and warm indoors.
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- Snow Songs to Enjoy in Winter! Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes & Hand-Play Songs
- [For Seniors] Beloved songs to sing in December: heartwarming moments with nostalgic kayōkyoku and children’s songs
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- [For people in their 90s] Recommended Christmas songs: from nostalgic school songs and hymns to timeless classics
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- [Christmas Songs] Christmas songs to sing with children
- Recommended Christmas songs for people in their 70s: A collection of classic winter hits from the Showa era
- [For Seniors] Winter songs you'll want to hum along to. A collection of classic tunes recommended for BGM and recreational activities
- Songs we want children to listen to! Recommended Christmas songs and nursery rhymes
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
December nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children’s songs: Fun winter hand-play songs (61–70)
Now, sing! Now, celebrate!yakushi: Nakayama Masaki
The hymn “Come, Sing, Come, Rejoice,” perfect for Christmas, is a Christmas carol famous in Germany, but it actually has its roots in a Sicilian folk song.
Johannes Daniel Falk wrote the lyrics for the children of an orphanage, and because he used a Sicilian Marian hymn for the melody, it came to be regarded as a Sicilian folk tune.
With Japanese lyrics also available, the song conveys a wish to celebrate a night as beautiful and pure as Christmas with hearts that are just as pure.
sleddingYakushi: Fuyumori Kayoko / Sakkyoku: Ruroi Andāson
The piece Sleigh Ride is often played as in-store BGM during the Christmas season.
But in fact, it isn’t a Christmas song.
It was composed as an orchestral work by composer Leroy Anderson.
Many children look forward to going sledding in winter, and this piece vividly portrays the lively, joyful fun of a sleigh ride.
It may not be a Christmas song, but it’s a classic winter tune I highly recommend for children!
Do you want to build a snowman?Kristen Anderson-Lopez,
A song from the Disney film Frozen, which was a huge hit in Japan.
It depicts Anna inviting Elsa, who is shut away in her room, to build a snowman together.
As the song progresses, time passes quickly, and in the end it portrays the loneliness of being just the two of them, while also conveying Anna’s hope that the two of them can move forward together.
The wind and the snow are my friends.sakushi: kobayashi jun’ichi / sakkyoku: neruson & rorinz
Based on the American nursery song “Frosty the Snowman,” “Kaze mo Yuki mo Tomodachi da” (“The Wind and Snow Are Our Friends”) was composed by Nelson & Rollins, with Japanese lyrics by Junichi Kobayashi of the Department of Children’s Literature.
It depicts children energetically playing amidst scenes of blowing wind and falling snow.
With its lively rhythm and cheerful melody, it’s also great for hand-play along with piano accompaniment.
This piece resounds with a warm sound that can blow away the chill of winter.
How about listening to it together with the original song that tells the snowman’s poignant story?
Winter Constellationsakushi: horiuchi keizō
Published in a junior high school music textbook in 1947 and selected as one of Japan’s 100 best songs, “Fuyu no Seiza” (Winter Constellations) uses the melody of “Mollie Darling” composed by American composer William Hayes, with lyrics written by Keizo Horiuchi.
The lyrics depict constellations shining in the winter night sky, intertwined with a clear, crystalline melody that evokes the cold season.
It’s a winter song best enjoyed on a quiet winter night while gazing up at the sky.