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 (31–40)
Winter Wonderland
A popular American song that’s often played as a Christmas tune.
In Japan, it’s sometimes written as “Winter Wonderland” as is, but it’s also rendered as “Suteki na Yukigeshi” (Lovely Snow Scenery), among other titles.
This song evokes the exhilarating feeling of gliding swiftly on a sleigh through a pure white snowy landscape.
Of course there are Japanese lyrics, but the English lyrics aren’t very difficult, so it’s worth giving them a try! It perfectly suits the festive Christmas mood, so it’s also recommended for singing at Christmas parties.
Snow FestivalSakkyoku: Minami Ranbou
Snow Festival, broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta in 1984.
The lyrics and music were written by Minami Ranbo, who was also active as an actor.
The piece features a grand, expansive sound and depicts the splendor of a festive scene.
The lyrics, which celebrate a uniquely Japanese winter event, convey the lively energy of children.
It’s a song whose passionate melody seems strong enough to blow away the winter cold.
Please listen to this children’s song that portrays people eagerly awaiting the warm spring sunshine.
Come, spring
Mii-chan has just started walking, they say.
With snow likely still on the ground, the little girl probably isn’t allowed to go outside yet.
Infant words like jojo, meaning “zōri” (straw sandals), and onmo, referring to the outdoors, vividly evoke the figure and expressions of a child longing for spring.
The swelling peach buds in the garden seem to be telling her, “Spring is right before your eyes.”
Merry Christmas
Originating from an English folk song from the 16th-century West Country, the song “We (I) Wish You a Merry Christmas” celebrates the arrival of Christmas and the New Year.
In Japan, it is sung as “Omedetō Christmas.” Christmas songs by Disney characters like Mickey and Donald are well known, and in recent years, cover versions by the Disney Princesses have also been released.
New Year’s mochi pounding
This is a hand-clapping game played in pairs.
The unique “pettanko” sound is sure to bring out smiles.
It’s a bit advanced, but once you get hooked, you’ll want to try it over and over! Let’s have fun together with a challenging hand game and get everyone excited! Grown-ups, practice thoroughly beforehand and show off your cool moves in front of the kids!
Collection of winter children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes. Fun winter finger-play songs too (41–50)
Wish Upon a Star
Originally titled “When You Wish upon a Star,” it was sung by Jiminy Cricket as the theme song of the 1940 Disney film Pinocchio and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
In Sweden and Norway, it is a Christmas song about the Star of Bethlehem.
Winter’s Daughter, Rikka-RokkaSakushi: Oshima Asako / Sakkyoku: Sakurai Eiko
Rikkarokka is quite an exotic-sounding name, but perhaps I’m not the only one who was reminded of the alternate name for snow, “rokka” (six-petaled flower).
Rikkarokka arrives with the first snowfall and then fades away with the coming of spring.
This slightly wistful story, reminiscent of the Russian folktale “The Snow Maiden,” unfolds over a melody that evokes Celtic music, making it a classic winter song.