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)
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa ClausComposed by Tommy Corder
The original title is “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” It’s a Christmas song about seeing Mommy kissing Santa on Christmas.
Kids old enough to know who Santa really is will instantly think, “Because it’s Dad!” but for children who still believe in Santa, it might be a bit surprising (lol).
In the song, the child knows it’s the father, so it creates a warm, happy mood.
It’s a slightly unusual but lovely Christmas song that you’ll want to listen to with your family.
winter sceneryMonbushō Shōka (Ministry of Education Songs)
The Ministry of Education’s song “Winter Scenery” depicts a day from morning to evening at the beginning of winter.
The first verse portrays a misty morning by the waterside, the second verse a daytime rural scene where wheat grows, and the third verse an evening village scene with light rain.
Sung to a beautiful melody, these landscapes evoke the gradual transition of the seasons from autumn into winter.
Each image described in the lyrics captures sights commonly seen at the end of autumn and the beginning of winter.
Why not experience the gentle flow of time and the changing seasons along with this song?
December nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children’s songs: Fun winter hand-play songs (31–40)
snow angel
Here is a soothing, lullaby-like song: “Yuki no Tenshi” (“Snow Angel”).
The lyrics were written by Takashi Yanase, widely known as the creator of Anpanman.
With gentle words that say, “Even when it snows, you’re not alone—snow is an angel descending from the heavens,” the song truly embodies Yanase’s heartfelt sentiment.
Its slow tempo makes it perfect as a winter chorus piece for kindergartens and nurseries.
It’s the kind of song that makes you want to fall asleep under a warm blanket while listening.
The First Noel (牧人ひつじを)Hymn No. 103
The Christmas carol known in English as “The First Noel,” which has been sung in England since around the 16th century and in Japanese as “Makibito Hitsuji o,” is a brisk, lively tune beloved around the world.
Its lyrics depict the scene described in chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke in the New Testament.
The word “Noel” in the English title means “birth,” and the song expresses congratulations on the birth of Christ.
Brr, it's so cold.Lyrics: Kazasaburō Ishihara / Music: Torazō Tamura
Oosamu Kosamu is a song that depicts a child who can no longer bear the winter cold, crying in the mountains.
It was composed by music educator Torazō Tamura, with lyrics by Wasaburō Ishihara, a prolific writer of children’s songs.
The lyrics evoke a landscape blanketed in white snow, and the melody conveys a sense of chill.
Perfect for the frosty month of December, the piece is often used for children’s hand games and snow play.
Beloved across generations from children to adults, it is a traditional children’s song that portrays winter scenes.
Flying-in Santa Claus
Featuring a Santa who’s made a bit of a blunder, “Tondekita Santa Claus.” There have been Santas who rushed in before Christmas, but the Santa in this song seems to have overslept on Christmas instead! It’s based on “Donde Esta Santa Claus,” titled in Spanish in 1958, and because pronouncing it as “Don-de Es-ta Santa Claus” can sound like “Tondekita Santa Claus” in Japanese, this title was chosen.
Santa is awakened by children calling out “Hey!” to the Santa who just won’t show up.
The song describes Santa hurrying and flying off to the children after waking up.
Toy Cha-Cha-ChaLyrics by: Akiyuki Nosaka / Music by: Nobuyoshi Koshibe
It isn’t exactly a winter song, but “Omocha no Cha-Cha-Cha” is often sung at Christmas events in childcare settings.
The song was originally created as an interlude for a comedy sketch and was later remade as a children’s song.
Its theme is that toys hold a nighttime party, and the lyrics depict the toys leaping out of the toy box after the children have fallen fast asleep.
Beloved across generations as a nursery song, it perfectly suits the fun, festive mood of Christmas.