Good Sunady

When I did my music degree, one of the things I learned was that children's songs - or at least the tunes of these songs - traveled around the world. Every culture has a song sung to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", even those which use different scales that we in the western (including Europe) world. It sounds from this discussion as though certain "nonsense" words also traveled.

Katherine

Actually I remember *that* one as well... different from the other one, but just as much fun. "One two three alaree (under one leg), four five six alaree (under the other leg), seven eight nine alaree (I think under the first leg again), ten alaree (we bounced the ball as high as we could on that one and spin around before it came back down) catch me (and catch it before it hit the ground)". I did teach Matthew that one, because it was one of the only ones I actually did remember. :o) I don't think we did the part where bounced the ball through our arms though.

Gem

We had exactly the same one in Yorkshire England when I was young:)

You know, come to think of it... I think my mom actually taught us that particular one, so it must have been around when she was a young girl. :o)

Gemini

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@ar.news.verio.net...

Forgive me. I am in the philosophical corner! LOL!

Isn't it strange!

It is the same game we all have played in different parts of the world!

And WE talk about "media age" and that WE are the privileged generation who can reach each other by PC!

Yes, I agree about that. It IS easy to talk to you all, and get a response the same evening, but I think there have been lot more connection earlier between people than we have thought!

When I, in Norway played the same ball play as you in Canada and US and other places in Europe??

Well. I remember my cousins coming to Norway from NY in the fifties.

They taught me to do my hair(!!! i didn't do it till YEARS later, that was the difference between US' and Norwegian youngsters that time)

And I taught them to play with dice formed stones. And they enjoyed it, took the stones home, and probably taught their friends.

May be it has spread like this. I don't know.

Well, I think it is wonderful.

WE (my colleagues; this is interesting for "us" schoolteachers;)

are talking about SAME games in DIFFERNT PARTS of Norway..

And Now I discover that we can talk worldwide about the same games.

I know that songs travel.

I know that OLD traditional things can be found in different parts of the world.

But it is a bit strange to see that MY OWN childhood culture ALSO is, well, a bit UNIVERSAL!

AUD ;-)

...... and may be it is because I'm getting OLD!!!! LOL!!! Aud ;-)))

Sounds like Nuns are like all of us, some are good and some are bad, some are outright mean, and some have very kind hearts.

Sad stories Mirjam, and certainly miserable memories. Don't dwell to long on them, we have to move forward to better times. No I am not saying that we should forget, but do not let this make you all black inside. You see their ignorant and mean behavior, will than be perpetuated and still have power to hurt you and slowly take away your smile and joy in life. Don't let them, leave them behind where they belong.

Hugs

Els

Yes I think you hit it right on the nose

Els

Music is the connector of the world.

Katherine

Katherine were you at all involved in the CBC singing program, where school kids all over Canada were singing one song all together, to draw attention to the music programmes in schools in Canada. I just caucht the tail end of it. I thought it a neat idea.

Els

We did have a chant but it was a bit different, IIRC.

Eimear

Very true, Els. I went to school to the Nuns, too, and have some very hurtful memories of things that were said and done to me, along with some very good ones, of great kindness.

Eimear

Aud i asked around and people told me the Alery game came to Israel with The British Army , as well as with New Immigrants ,, maybe you aren`t so aware about it , but Israel , took in Jewish people from 70 countries [ or more ] , who brought with them , Food habits ans Kids games ,,,,, From the various diasporas . So it is not so strange after all that it came here. mirjam

I was always fascinated with the whole thing that Pyramids were erected in Egypt as well as in South America, when they had never met each other either but had the same idea for building structures. Or *did* they travel far across the oceans and lands to meet, but it was never written anywhere for future reference? That's an interesting concept. :o)

Gem

No, unfortunately, I wasn't. I used to teach music, but haven't done it for the past 14 years. If I had been, I would have done it. And I don't think that anyone here did it, or I would have heard about it from someone. Too bad. It sounds like a great idea.

Katherine

"Mirjam Bruck-Cohen" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@ar.news.verio.net...

I agree, Mirjam; it's more strange that it came to Norway! I CANNOT imagine that my grandfather, the sail-ship captain, learned it abroad and then thaught it to his children! ;-)) AUD :-))

Thor Heidel [ Spelling ? ] tried many years ago to travel with a Bamboo erected Ship , i think it was named RA, from the shores of Africa to the shores of South America , to check if Ancient Egyptians , could travel this way .... and he succeeded to show it was possible . mirjam

Hello Mirjam Yes he did several of those journies. Always very interesting to read about. Human being have done a lot of traveling, and moving about. It is also thought that the Bushmen in the Kalahari dessert, came originally from Mongolia. They have found that their musical instruments are identical to those of the people in Mongolia. Also Bushmen are very small, and have similar features to those of the people in Mongolia. An interesting conclusion or proposition, I am looking for another word, maybe analysis. I think that it was Laurence van der Post, who cameup with that idea.

Even though we do not behave like it, we are all one big family, I would think.

Els

Sorry Aud , i had to laugh ,,, you gave this picture of this Norwegian Sailor [ Tall Blond Viking like !!!!!] with pipe in hand ,,,, You are right i can`t see him learning kids games ,,,, But Games and songs travel , sometimes with mercahnyt kids , or Diplomatic kids, and ,,,,, sometimes with Young wives,,,,,, Years ago when i still lived in the Community Village, There was one very young woman who married at 16 [ shot gun marriage] , She would copme out with her baby in the Carriage, and jump rope with us , 2-8 years younger than her. She taught us games we didn`t know .... mirjam