We’re so happy it’s finally Spring!
Here’s a lovely Japanese poem that celebrates the season.
Spring Has Come
(Traditional Japanese Song)
English Translation
Spring is coming, spring is coming,
Where is spring now?
(Refrain)
Here in the mountains,
Here in the village,
And here in the fields.
Flowers bloom, flowers bloom,
Where do flowers bloom?
Here in the mountains,
Here in the village,
And here in the fields.
Birds are singing, birds are singing,
Where do birdies sing?
Here in the mountains,
Here in the village,
And here in the fields.Japanese
春が来た
春が来た 春が来た どこに来た
山に来た 里に来た 野にも来た
花が咲く 花が咲く どこに咲く
山に咲く 里に咲く 野にも咲く
鳥がなく 鳥がなく どこでなく
山でなく 里でなく 野でもなく
Visit the Spring Has Come page on our site for the melody on piano, videos, and sheet music.
Nowruz (Persian New Year)
Saturday, March 20, 2021
The Persian (Iranian) New Year is celebrated on the first day of Spring. It’s called Nowruz. There are many New Year traditions, including throwing grass into a river or lake. Our correspondent Fatima wrote from Iran about some New Year’s traditions:
In the last month of the Iranian year people shake up the house (i.e. they clean the whole house like Spring cleaning) and buy new cloths and things for the new year. The main thing they do in the first two weeks of the new year is to visit relatives, family and friends.
On the last day of Nowruz, people try to spend the day out of the house and in parks and nature. Because according to old traditions, it’s said that the 13th day of the first month of the new year is unlucky, and that we should go out of the house, and that those who stay at home will not have a lucky year! Actually, I don’t believe that the 13th day is infelicitous, but maybe it’s just a tradition.
One interesting thing about Nowruz is that before the new year people plant wheat or other grains in a plate or dish, for the first day of the new year. The grass-plot should be grown enough to put it in the new year table setting which we call 7-Seen. On the 13th day, when people spend the day outside, they should bring the grass-plot and throw it in the water – in a river, lake, or something like that. And according to one tradition, single girls and men can tie the grass before throwing it to get married that year! Or if someone is in love with someone else they too can tie the grass in the hope of marrying their beloved. This tradition is more common with single women. That’s funny I never tied any grass till now, but this year was the first year that I planted grass, maybe I’ll marry this year! LOL. Have fun Fatima
Thanks for writing Fatima and sharing your traditions with us!
-Mama Lisa
PS The part about tying the grass to get married is particularly interesting -I wrote about the symbolism behind the English phrase, "to tie the knot" (i.e. to get married). There are many traditions around the world in which tying a knot signifies love and marriage.
Read more about Nowruz on our site.
Passover
Eve of Saturday, March 27 - Eve of Sunday, April 4, 2021
Passover is one of the most important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It celebrates the liberation of the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.
Go Down Moses is well-known Passover Song.
It has its origins in an African American spiritual from the time of slavery. What’s interesting is that the slaves chose the story of Passover to express their situation. Now Jewish people sing it for Passover.
Here’s a Passover version of Go Down Moses…
When Israel was in Egypt's land
Let my people go.
Oppressed so hard they could not stand,
Let my people go.
(Chorus)
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.
Thus saith the Lord, bold Moses said,
Let my people go,
If not, I'll smite your first-born dead,
Let my people go.
(Chorus)
No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go,
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go.
(Chorus)
O let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go,
And soon may all the Earth be free,
Let my people go.
(Chorus)
For a longer version, with sheet music, and a video performance, visit our Go Down Moses Page.
Click here for more Passover Traditions.
And visit our Passover Songs Page.
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