[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
[Songs for February] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs related to Setsubun and winter! (41–50)
Mukkuri Kuma-sanSuweeden min’yō
This cheerful play song, based on a traditional Swedish folk tune, is themed around a bear’s hibernation.
You can just picture children holding hands in a circle, singing excitedly until the bear in the center wakes up.
With its simple melody and lyrics, it’s easy even for young children to remember and can be enjoyed together with hand games or tag.
It’s widely loved in nurseries and kindergartens and is often included on CDs and in songbooks.
It’s a perfect choice for playing indoors on cold winter days.
If everyone sings and moves together, they’ll warm up in no time.
[February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs related to Setsubun and winter! (51–60)
Constellations of Winter (Original: Mollie Darling)Sakkyoku: Wiriamu Heisu
This piece was published in 1947 as one of the songs in the government-issued textbook “Secondary Music.” The lyrics were written by Keizo Horiuchi, but the melody is borrowed from “Molly Darling,” a popular song composed in 1871 by American songwriter William Hayes, making it, so to speak, a kind of contrafact.
Interestingly, when you listen to “Molly Darling” on its own, it doesn’t evoke the solemn atmosphere of “Fuyu no Seiza” (“Winter Constellations”); instead, it comes across more as a bright popular tune.
Happy HinamatsuriSakkyoku: Kawamura Naonori (Kawamura Koyo)
A famous song that has been sung in Japan for many years—one that every girl has probably sung at least once—is “Happy Hinamatsuri.” Although it’s originally a song for March, Hinamatsuri comes right after February ends.
Why not start practicing in February so you can sing it on the day?
Song of the Bathhouse
Speaking of February, it’s the time of year when winter’s cold is especially harsh.
At times like that, taking a bath to warm your body thoroughly is highly recommended.
This is a lively hand-play song that portrays a bath that warms both body and heart.
In this piece, instead of a bath at home, it depicts everyone heading to a public bathhouse, and the cheerful call-and-response conveys the excitement of enjoying the bath.
It then unfolds to show washing the body and soaking in the hot water.
Ending with a scene visible from the window, it evokes the image of relaxing in the bath—a song filled with happiness.
Hymn to the Snowy Mountains (Original Tune: Oh My Darling, Clementine)amerika min’yō
Dark Ducks, who led Japan’s postwar pop scene, released “Yukiyama Sanka” in 1959.
The original tune is “Oh My Darling, Clementine.” Based on the melody of an American folk song, it features Japanese lyrics themed around snowy mountains.
The soaring vocals set against a grand drum roll are especially striking.
Precisely because it’s the season when we feel winter’s chill, let’s warm up by singing this passionate melody.
It’s also a perfect track to liven up February excursions and outings.
pine coneSakkyoku: Kobayashi Tsuyae
This song is a nursery rhyme with lyrics by Takao Hirota and music by Tsuyae Kobayashi.
The lyrics are short, but the use of geminate consonants adds rhythmic accents, and the repeated closing words give it a rhyming feel, making it a fun piece.
It’s also popular in preschools and kindergartens as a song to sing with hand motions.
Come to think of it, pine nuts used in Chinese cuisine and pasta come from edible pine cones, so singing while everyone snacks on pine nuts could make for a memorable experience.
It would also be fun to sing it together with “Donguri Korokoro.”
Calendar MarchSakkyoku: Fukuda Wakako
This piece is a song packed with ideas that make learning the flow of the year fun.
From January to December, the lyrics weave in the characteristics and events of each month in a memorable way.
With a bright, lively march-style melody, it features a rhythm that makes it easy for children to sing along.
Since it was introduced on NHK’s “Okaasan to Issho” in 1973, this piece has been loved by many children and their parents.
February is presented as the season when Adonis ramosa (Fukujusou) blooms.
On cold winter days or when spending time indoors, why not try singing it together with your child?