Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
Do you like winter?Although winter is very cold, there are many unique ways to enjoy it: you can see a beautiful silver world created by pure white snow, and you can feel a special kind of warmth you can only experience in winter, like hot pot dishes or sitting in a kamakura snow hut.There are also lots of fun events like Christmas and New Year’s!Children are probably looking forward to making snowmen, having snowball fights, and enjoying Christmas presents and cakes, aren’t they?In this article, we’ll introduce nursery rhymes, folk songs, traditional children’s songs, and hand-play songs themed around various aspects of “winter.”There are many songs that will turn a winter that’s “just cold” into wonderful memories, so please give them a listen!
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Collection of Winter Children's Songs, Folk Songs, and Nursery Rhymes: Fun Winter Hand-Play Songs Too (11–20)
Cha-Cha-Cha of the Snowman
When I hear “Cha Cha Cha,” the first thing that comes to mind is ‘Omocha no Cha Cha Cha,’ but this ‘Yukidaruma no Cha Cha Cha’ is just as delightful.
The song even features a daddy snowman and a mommy snowman, so it seems perfect for a short New Year’s performance by children.
Its catchy rhythm makes you want to sing while watching the January snow!
Spring SeaNEW!
That famous melody you can hardly avoid hearing on TV or in the streets when New Year’s comes around.
It’s a celebrated piece composed by the koto musician Michio Miyagi, evoking the sea in early spring.
The gentle interplay of koto and shakuhachi vividly depicts the ebb and flow of the Seto Inland Sea and boats gliding across the water’s surface.
After it was broadcast on the radio in January 1930, it became widely established as “the New Year’s piece.” This work holds both serenity and splendor.
As you enjoy time with your family, listen and let it conjure Japan’s beautiful landscapes.
EtenrakuNEW!
Known as the very byword for gagaku, this piece is a time-honored melody that has been performed at court rituals and celebrations since the Heian period.
It is also famous as the original tune of the Fukuoka folk song “Kuroda-bushi,” and is sometimes sung with lyrics.
In addition, it is well known as a listening piece in junior high school music classes.
The timbres of the shō and hichiriki seem perfectly suited to the solemn mood of welcoming the New Year.
In this season when winter’s chill seeps into the body, it can be a pleasure to sit under the kotatsu and listen to the traditional sounds of Japan.
oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)
This song is charming for its friendly melody and playful lyrics that use the image of manju buns.
Born from the wisdom of keeping warm, it has been passed down across generations as a game that shares warmth and smiles.
Beyond its value as a play song, it is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, even appearing in haiku as a winter season word.
On a cold winter day, if you sing it while actually doing oshikura manju—huddling and gently pushing each other—children will surely feel not only the warmth of skin, but also the joy of time spent with friends and family.
KodANUKI Ponpo
The children’s song “Kodanuki Pompo,” with its uniquely pleasant sense of rhythm, has been airing on NHK’s Minna no Uta since 1983, so some of you may have heard it.
Listen closely to the poignant lyrics about Kodanuki Pompo faithfully waiting for the girl who lent him her red gloves last winter.
The steady, even rhythm flows comfortably into your body, and together with the gentle, deeply expressive melody, it’s sure to strengthen the bond between parents and children.
Christmas tree
How about a hand play song that incorporates onomatopoeia kids love? Words associated with Christmas, like “candle” and “Santa,” heighten the sense of excitement, and actions like blowing with a “fwooo” or smiling with a “niko” naturally draw children in.
At the same time, it can also deepen their understanding of words for numbers, such as “first” and “second.” A slow tempo helps create a calm atmosphere, making it easy to enjoy the hand play song with a gentle feeling.
Collection of winter children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Fun winter hand-play songs too (21–30)
When Santa goes out
“When Santa Goes Out” is a Christmas song that sets Santa-themed lyrics to the familiar phrase from the nursery rhyme “Gonbei-san no Akachan.” With a catchy melody you can remember after just one listen, it’s delightful even for little children.
Santa brings the gifts everyone eagerly awaits—so sing and dance while letting your imagination run wild: “How is he getting everything ready?” “What kind of presents will he bring?”