Pri­mav­era

En el prado el cara­col
saca los cuer­nos al sol.
Como pre­mio, el gira­sol
Le da un beso al caracol.

La abejita presurosa
Saluda a la flor pre­ciosa.
¡Qué promesa, la pri­mav­era
mañana de primavera!

.en

A tiny snail is wind­ing along,
Stretch­ing his feel­ers toward the sun.
When she sees the snail in bliss,
A sun­flower leans over to give him a kiss.

A busy bee joins in the play,
Buzzing over to say, “Good day!”
Oh, what delights a day can bring
On this very first morn­ing of Spring!

Muu, Moo!: Rimas de animales/Animal Nursery Rhymes
Latin Baby Book Club

The Full Cold Moon

December Video from The Old Farmer’s Almanac

M O R E :ASTRONOMY ITINERARIES: Solstice Lunar Eclipse

Winter Holidays in Romania

In Romania we celebrate Saint Nicholas Day, Christmas and New Year.

Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on the night of December 5th, when children are cleaning and polishing their boots carefully and put them by the door or on the windowsill to wait for St. Nicholas’ (Moş Nicolae) visit. He is generous to parents as well as children, putting a little present in each boot. In some areas, branches or thin twigs are left as a warning that behavior needs to improve. It is one of the most important Romanian holidays.

Christmas is known as ‘Crăciun‘ in Romania and is celebrated on December 25th. The celebrations begin with the decoration of the Christmas Tree on Ajunul Craciunului (Christmas Eve). Romanian children receive presents from Moş Crăciun (Santa Claus) in the evening of Christmas Eve and do not leave milk and cookies out for Moş Crăciun.

Carols, called ‘colinde‘ in Romanian, are a very important part of the Romanian Christmas festivities. Throughout the Christmas season, children visit every house in the neighborhood singing carols such as Steaua sus răsare (The Star) and Moş Crăciun (Santa Claus) and reciting traditional poems and legends. In return for such performances, carolers receive apples, nuts, traditional cakes (cozonaci), and sometimes even money from each house.

Traditional Romanian Christmas meals include saramale (stuffed cabbage rolls) with mămăligă (polenta), many types of pork sausages, roast pork, pickles, beef salad. The traditional Christmas dessert is called “cozonac”. It is a rich sweet bread filled with ground walnuts, raisins,dried fruits, similar to the Italian panettone. It requires a long preparation time that begins early on the morning of Christmas Eve.

Romanians welcome the New Year with the traditions that have been around for centuries. The children as well as the adults, take part in the joyous celebrations with great enthusiasm. On New Year’s Eve in Romania, children sing Sorcova and Pluguşorul. The songs wish good luck, happiness and success.

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SEE ALSO: CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS IN ROMANIA
Romanian Winter Season Traditions
Spending the winter holidays in Romania: local traditions

Summertime

by George Gershwin

Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high

Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry

One of these mornings
You’re going to rise up singing
Then you’ll spread your wings
And you’ll take to the sky

But until that morning
There’s a’nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by

Summertime,
And the livin’ is easy
Fish are jumpin’
And the cotton is high

Your daddy’s rich
And your mamma’s good lookin’
So hush little baby
Don’t you cry

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/george_gershwin/#share

C’est le Printemps

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
Aujourd’hui j’ai rien à faire
Quelle aubaine
Turlutaine
Je marche le nez en l’air

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
Les arbres sont en couleur
Dans les nids
Les petits
S’égosillent tous en choeur

REFRAIN:
Le matin, le matin
Ne rime plus avec chagrin
A midi, à midi
Je n’aurai pas plus de soucis
A 4 heures, à 4 heures
Ça rime avec tartine au beurre
Et le soir, et le soir
Ça rime toujours avec espoir

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
Qui vient juste après l’hiver
Le voilà
Youp’ lala
C’est joli pis c’est pas cher

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
C’est pour moi qu’elles butinent
Les abeilles
Dans l’soleil
Me préparent mes tartines

REFRAIN:
Le matin…..etc.

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
Je compte les rossignols
J’suis gâté
C’est congé
Je n’irai pas à l’école

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
Poussent des petits bourgeons
Dans les prés
Sur mon nez
Poussent des petits boutons

REFRAIN:
Le matin…..etc.

J’suis content
Dans l’étang
Y’a de nouveau des grenouilles
Elles s’enlacent
Elles s’embrassent
Y’en a mêm’ qui s’tripatouillent

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps
J’aurai bientôt une p’tite soeur
C’est maman
En chantant
Qui me l’a dit tout à l’heure

REFRAIN:
Le matin…..etc.

J’suis content
C’est l’printemps.

Club Tralalere

Fashion Seasons

The Riddle Book (1828)

In Spring I look gay,
Decked in comely array,
In Summer more clothing I wear.

When colder it grows,
I fling off my clothes,
And in winter quite naked appear.

What is it?

Little Seeds

by Else Holmelund Minarik

Little seeds we sow in spring
Growing while the robins sing,
Give us carrots, peas and beans,
Tomatoes, pumpkins, squash and greens.

And we pick them,
One and all,
Through the summer,
Through the fall,

Winter comes, then spring, and then
Little seeds we sow again.

Pussy Willows

by Aileen Fisher

Close your eyes
and do not peek
and I’ll rub Spring,
across your cheek-
smooth as satin,
soft and sleek-
close your eyes
and do not peek.

Spring

by Robert McCracken

Today is the day when bold kites fly,
When cumulus clouds roar across the sky.
When robins return, when children cheer,
When light rain beckons spring to appear.

Today is the day when daffodils bloom,
Which children pick to fill the room,
Today is the day when grasses green,
When leaves burst forth for spring to be seen.

March

by Elizabeth Jane Coatsworth

A blue day,
a blue jay,
and a good beginning.

One crow,
melting snow–
spring’s winning!