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
Children’s songs, folk songs, and nursery rhymes for December: Fun winter hand play songs (51–60)
the Son of GodHymn No. 111
This hymn, No.
111, is a perfect song for the Christmas season.
Those who attended Christian schools probably sang it.
It’s said to have been composed by an Englishman, John Francis Wade, though the truth isn’t entirely clear—there’s something mysterious about that, too.
The song’s content is pure and innocent, celebrating the birth of the Son of God.
It would be really cool to sing a piece like this in Latin—if you’ve got a beautiful voice, give it a try! By the way, although the lyrics differ from Hymn No.
284, they supposedly share the same melody.
Glory in the highestHymn No. 98
The British Christmas carol also known by the title “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is called “Ten ni wa Sakae” in Japanese.
Its melody uses the second movement of the cantata “Festgesang,” composed by the German composer Mendelssohn in 1840.
Counted among the four great English hymns, this song celebrates the birth of Christ and expresses a longing for the glory to come.
Popular Christmas songs are wonderful, but it’s also recommended to listen to traditional hymns and reflect on the stories they portray.
Grill the mochichildren’s song
We prepare mochi, an essential part of New Year’s, in December.
It’s a traditional Japanese scene, but the association of “New Year’s = mochi” seems to have faded somewhat over time.
Speaking of mochi, there’s this song, Mochikko Yaite.
Its lyrics—“Let’s grill the mochi, dip it in soy sauce, and eat it; it’s sure to be delicious”—evoke the image of diligently getting ready while reflecting on how quickly time passes.
It’s also fun to change it up with kinako or sweet red bean paste and sing together with everyone.
Let's decorate with holly (Deck the Hall with Boughs of Holly)Welsh folk song
Featuring holly with red berries, often used as a Christmas decoration, “Hiragi Kazarou” is a hymn based on the Welsh carol “Nos Galan.” It depicts people decorating with holly and enjoying a festive Christmas.
The scatted, refrain-like lines that recur between the lyrics are traditional nonsense syllables commonly used in Western countries—such as in madrigals and balletti—and were originally intended to be played on the harp.
It’s a perfect song to sing together while preparing for a Christmas party and during the celebration itself!
December nursery rhymes, folk songs, and children’s songs: Fun winter hand-play songs (61–70)
Little Drummer BoyKatherine Kennicott Davis
The Little Drummer Boy is a song about a small boy playing the drum to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
It’s a Christmas song published in 1941 by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis.
The drum-like sounds that appear in the lyrics represent the beats of the boy’s drum.
The boy is poor and, although he wants to celebrate Jesus’s birth, he has no gift to offer.
With Mary’s permission, he plays his drum as a tribute—this is the story told in the song.
Light of FirefliesScottish folk song
Auld Lang Syne is well known as the song that signals graduation ceremonies and store closing time.
And when you hear Auld Lang Syne in December, you think of NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen! Every New Year’s Eve, a variety of artists who were active that year liven up the night with music, and as the final send-off, all the performers sing this song together.
As you look back on the memories of the year, give it a listen.
Pechka (a type of Russian masonry stove)Lyrics: Hakushu Kitahara / Music: Kosaku Yamada
Pechka refers to a Russian heater/oven.
This song depicts people happily chatting around the pechka.
When it snows, it’s hard to go outside, but the song conveys a mood of enjoying that time as well, which feels very charming.
It was included in the 1924 collection Manchurian Songbook and has also been featured in school music materials.
Fireplaces aren’t common in Japan, but doesn’t imagining yourself snug and cozy under a kotatsu make you feel happy?