December children's songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes: fun winter hand-play songs
When it comes to December, it’s the season that makes you excited and a little restless, with Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and preparations for the New Year.
Especially as kids, there was so much to look forward to—not just Christmas, but winter break and playing in the snow when it fell.
In this article, we’ll introduce children’s songs perfect for this wonderful month of December, along with playful songs everyone can enjoy and traditional nursery rhymes that have long been popular.
Most of these are for children, but there are also moving masterpieces that resonate deeply with adults.
Try listening while feeling the crisp air outside, or while staying cozy and warm indoors.
- Collection of winter nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs. Includes fun winter hand-play songs too.
- [Snow Songs for Winter] Children's Snow Nursery Rhymes and Hand-Play Songs
- [Childcare] Recommended songs and nursery rhymes for November: Fun autumn fingerplay songs
- [February Songs] Introducing children's songs, folk songs, nursery rhymes, and hand-play songs about Setsubun and winter!
- Songs for January: Nursery rhymes and fingerplay songs we want children to grow familiar with
- [Christmas Songs] Christmas songs to sing with children
- Songs we want children to listen to! Recommended Christmas songs and nursery rhymes
- [Children’s Songs of Autumn] Autumn songs, school songs, and traditional children’s rhymes. A collection of classic pieces to sing in autumn.
- Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about animals
- Recommended children's songs and hand play songs for October! Music time in childcare that feels like autumn.
- Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs about food
- [Children’s Song] A Collection of Hand Play Songs Perfect for Christmas
- The World of Kagoshima Folk Songs: Traditional Melodies that Carry On the Spirit of the Hometown
Nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children's songs for December: Fun winter fingerplay songs (21–30)
Christmas on Rabbit MeadowLyrics by Toshihiko Shinzawa / Music by Hirotaka Nakagawa
Usagi Nohara no Christmas (Christmas on Rabbit Meadow) depicts rabbit children eagerly awaiting Christmas.
The lyrics are by Toshihiko Shinzawa and the music by Hirotaka Nakagawa.
Bright sleigh bells and a bouncy piano part ring out with a lively sparkle.
It’s fun to clap along or play bells to the rhythm of the song.
The lyrics, which conjure up cute rabbits braving the cold winter, also evoke the season, making it a classic children’s song for winter.
As you make wishes upon the night stars and wait for Christmas with the children, be sure to give it a listen.
All ye faithful, make hasteGeorg Friedrich Händel
Based on the Christmas carol “Joy to the World,” which enjoys worldwide popularity especially in Europe and the United States, “Morobito Kozorite” is also beloved in Japan as a Christmas hymn and is a song of national renown.
Accompanied by a beautiful melody that celebrates the festive arrival of Christmas, its lyrics express gratitude for the Lord’s coming.
It’s perfect for mixed chorus with piano accompaniment or for handbell performances, and it’s a Christmas song that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults.
Santa Claus Is Coming to TownLyrics translation: Takao Kobe / Music: Fred Coots
The Christmas song “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” which became popular after it was broadcast on a radio program in 1934, is known in Japan with lyrics translated by Takao Kobe.
It’s a song that makes children happy thinking “Santa is coming!” and makes adults feel nostalgic for the days when they received presents at Christmas.
Its bright, rhythmic melody heightens the festive Christmas mood.
Jingle BellsComposer: James Lord Pierpont
In 1857, Reverend James Lord Pierpont wrote and composed it to be sung at Thanksgiving.
The song depicts young people racing in sleighs.
Its original title was “One Horse Open Sleigh,” but it was so well received that it was also sung at Christmas and eventually came to be known as “Jingle Bells.” There are six or seven popular versions of the Japanese lyrics alone.
The customer is Santa ClausLyrics: Kayoko Fuyumori / Music: Yuhei Hanaoka
Let’s invite Santa to our Christmas party! This heart-thumping, exciting Christmas song is all about that feeling.
“Our Guest Is Santa Claus,” which was sung on the show Okaasan to Issho, captures the joyful expressions of children working hard to welcome Santa.
As they steadily prepare for the party before Santa arrives, their thoughts also turn to the presents they might receive.
The child in the song even seems to be thinking about how to thank Santa for bringing gifts in the end! It’s a highly recommended track for BGM at your Christmas party at home.
The wind and the snow are my friends.Lyrics by Junichi Kobayashi / Music by Nelson & Rollins
Based on the American nursery song “Frosty the Snowman,” “Kaze mo Yuki mo Tomodachi da” (“The Wind and Snow Are Our Friends”) was composed by Nelson & Rollins, with Japanese lyrics by Junichi Kobayashi of the Department of Children’s Literature.
It depicts children energetically playing amidst scenes of blowing wind and falling snow.
With its lively rhythm and cheerful melody, it’s also great for hand-play along with piano accompaniment.
This piece resounds with a warm sound that can blow away the chill of winter.
How about listening to it together with the original song that tells the snowman’s poignant story?
KodANUKI PonpoLyrics: Etsuo Suzuki / Music: Takateru Oyama
Atom Shimojo sings this children’s song, “Kodanuki Ponpo,” with his famous rich voice.
Speaking of Shimojo, he’s recently appeared in Kamen Rider Hibiki, and movie fans also know him as the Japanese dubbing voice for Eddie Murphy.
The lyrics tell the story of a little tanuki who longs for the child who lent him a pair of gloves.
The melody is rather subdued, so some listeners might find it a bit lonely.
The repeated “ponpoko” sound should be comical, but it comes across a little bittersweet.
A recommended track filled with the chilly scenery of winter.