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.
Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for December: Fun winter hand-play songs (41–50)
I wonder if the rice crackers are done.
I can’t help buying and eating those rice crackers they grill right in front of the shop—they look so delicious.
Senbei are said to be at their tastiest in autumn and winter, after harvesting non-glutinous and glutinous rice.
Speaking of senbei, the hand-play song “Osenbe Yaketa Kana” is a fun tune as well.
Everyone stands in a circle, sings “Osenbe Yaketa Kana,” and flips their palms—as if they were senbei—in the game.
Video games are great, but sometimes these simple, old-fashioned games are nice too.
If you speed up the song as you go, it gets really exciting!
Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for December: Fun winter hand play songs (51–60)
oden (Japanese simmered hot pot dish)
I’ve heard that some convenience stores sell oden all year round, but even so, oden is still a classic symbol of winter, isn’t it? The song “Oden” is perfect for hand-play activities, and I imagine many childcare facilities incorporate it into their programs.
It’s also fun to assign shapes to the ingredients—circles for daikon radish, squares for hanpen, and so on.
Perhaps nursery rhymes and oden are a good match, because besides this song there are plenty of other cheerful tunes like “Oishii Oden,” “Oden-ya-san,” and “Oden Gutsu-Gutsu Taiso.” If you have time, be sure to check them out!
snow angel
Here is a soothing, lullaby-like song: “Yuki no Tenshi” (“Snow Angel”).
The lyrics were written by Takashi Yanase, widely known as the creator of Anpanman.
With gentle words that say, “Even when it snows, you’re not alone—snow is an angel descending from the heavens,” the song truly embodies Yanase’s heartfelt sentiment.
Its slow tempo makes it perfect as a winter chorus piece for kindergartens and nurseries.
It’s the kind of song that makes you want to fall asleep under a warm blanket while listening.
Let’s decorate with holly (Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly)u~eruzu min’yō
Featuring holly with red berries, often used as a Christmas decoration, “Hiragi Kazarou” is a hymn based on the Welsh carol “Nos Galan.” It depicts people decorating with holly and enjoying a festive Christmas.
The scatted, refrain-like lines that recur between the lyrics are traditional nonsense syllables commonly used in Western countries—such as in madrigals and balletti—and were originally intended to be played on the harp.
It’s a perfect song to sing together while preparing for a Christmas party and during the celebration itself!
Little Drummer BoyKyasarin Kenikotto Dēvisu
The Little Drummer Boy is a song about a small boy playing the drum to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It’s a Christmas song published in 1941 by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis.
The drum-like sounds that appear in the lyrics represent the beats of the boy’s drum.
The boy is poor and, although he wants to celebrate Jesus’s birth, he has no gift to offer.
With Mary’s permission, he plays his drum as a tribute—this is the story told in the song.
Light of FirefliesSukottorando min’yō
Auld Lang Syne is well known as the song that signals graduation ceremonies and store closing time.
And when you hear Auld Lang Syne in December, you think of NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen! Every New Year’s Eve, a variety of artists who were active that year liven up the night with music, and as the final send-off, all the performers sing this song together.
As you look back on the memories of the year, give it a listen.
Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Sakushi: Kitahara Hakushū / Sakkyoku: Yamada Kōsaku
Pechka refers to a Russian heater/oven.
This song depicts people happily chatting around the pechka.
When it snows, it’s hard to go outside, but the song conveys a mood of enjoying that time as well, which feels very charming.
It was included in the 1924 collection Manchurian Songbook and has also been featured in school music materials.
Fireplaces aren’t common in Japan, but doesn’t imagining yourself snug and cozy under a kotatsu make you feel happy?
