[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
February brings Setsubun and the chant “Oni wa soto, fuku wa uchi!” In nurseries and kindergartens, there are likely many chances to sing songs related to Setsubun.
But in fact, there are plenty of songs perfect for February beyond just Setsubun tunes! In this article, we introduce songs connected to February and children’s songs that are perfect for the harshly cold season.
Many of them can be sung with hand-play motions, so children are sure to enjoy them.
Please make use of them on days when it’s too cold to play outside or during music time.
- Snow Songs to Enjoy in Winter! Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes & Hand-Play Songs
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [For Seniors] February Songs You’ll Want to Hum: Enjoy Winter with Nostalgic Classics
- [Childcare] Fun Songs for 2-Year-Olds to Sing! Recommended Song Collection
- [For Seniors] Winter songs you'll want to hum along to. A collection of classic tunes recommended for BGM and recreational activities
- [Setsubun Song] Demons out, fortune in! Bean-throwing songs to enjoy on Setsubun
- Timeless songs you’ll want to listen to in February: winter songs and Valentine’s songs.
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- March nursery rhymes & hand play songs! Spring songs you can enjoy with your kids
- [Hand Play] Popular with kids! A collection of trendy hand-play songs and nostalgic traditional children’s songs
- Nursery rhymes to sing in spring: a collection of classic songs you'll want to sing with your children
- December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
- Childcare: Today's recommended fun songs
[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs related to Setsubun and winter! (21–30)
Come, springSakushi: Soma Gyofu / Sakkyoku: Hirota Ryutaro
A song that eagerly awaits the arrival of spring, “Haru yo, Koi” (“Come, Spring”).
As winter sets in in earnest, the cold can make your body shiver.
In those moments, it might be nice to sing this song and think together with your child about what you’d like to do when spring comes.
It’s a classic that has been beloved by a wide audience for many years, so be sure to give it a listen.
Snow KobōzuSakkyokusha: Fushō
“Yuki no Kobōzu,” sung to the same melody as “Ito Maki no Uta,” a song about making shoes, shares an unclear origin.
It is said to have come from pieces like the Danish folk tune “Shoemaker’s Polka” and the folk dance tune “Shoemaker Dance.” Since “Ito Maki no Uta” is widely known, you can easily sing “Yuki no Kobōzu” by simply changing the lyrics! “Yuki no kobōzu” refers to snow itself, and the song describes how falling snow lands in various places and what happens to it.
[February Songs] Introducing children’s songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs related to Setsubun and winter! (31–40)
The Spinning SongSakkyoku: Komori Akihiro
The children’s song “Ito Maki no Uta” is a well-loved hand-play song.
The lyrics about winding and pulling thread to make little elves’ shoes are quite familiar, aren’t they? If you change part of the lyrics, you can make all sorts of things, so how about making winter-themed items like scarves or sweaters together with the children?
The Snow PainterSakkyoku: Ando Takashi
The snow-covered scenery looks as if the entire town has been painted pure white, doesn’t it? The children’s song “The Snow Painter” captures the sight of a town dyed in white, making it perfect for snowy February days.
Countless snow painters come down from the sky—in other words, the snow keeps falling and piling up, turning not only the town’s buildings but also the natural landscapes like mountains and fields completely white.
It’s a very calm and evocative song, yet the lyrics are unique and easy for children to sing!
Brr, it’s so cold.Sakkyoku: Warabe Uta
Famous as a song that evokes the harsh cold of winter is this children’s folk song, “Oosamu Kosamu.” There are various versions of the lyrics, but the well-known one features a boy who, saying he’s cold, comes down from the mountain in tears.
Perhaps this song comes to mind for you, too, when you’re faced with the chill of winter.
MomotaroSakkyoku: Okano Teiichi
As a character associated with Setsubun, ogres (oni) are indispensable, aren’t they? When it comes to famous stories featuring oni, “Momotaro” comes to mind.
There’s a song with the same title, “Momotaro,” that tells the story of Momotaro.
This song has six verses and compactly covers the episodes from Momotaro leaving home, recruiting three animal companions, setting off to Onigashima to defeat the oni, and triumphantly returning.
Not many people may know all six verses, but since it lets you grasp the whole Momotaro tale at once, Setsubun is a great chance to listen to the entire song!
Winter nightMonbushō shōka
Here is a song that was broadcast on NHK’s “Minna no Uta” in 1968.
It originally comes from the Ministry of Education’s collection of school songs, and the author is officially unknown.
As research progresses, we may someday learn who wrote it.
The lyrics, which depict a family gathered around a sunken hearth on a winter night as the cold bites and snow flurries fall, paired with a perfectly matching melody, are truly captivating.
The contrast between the scenes outside and inside is wonderful as well.
I hope beautiful Japanese songs like this will continue to be passed down and sung in the future.
