Små grodorna facts for kids
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Små grodorna (which means "The Little Frogs" in Swedish) is a fun and traditional Swedish dance and song. People usually perform it during midsummer celebrations, dancing around a tall pole called a maypole. The dance movements show body parts that frogs don't have, like "ears" (öron) and "tails" (svansar). Sometimes, Små grodorna is also sung at Christmas. Instead of a maypole, people dance around the Christmas tree.
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Små Grodorna: The Little Frogs Dance
What is Små Grodorna?
Små grodorna is a very popular song and dance in Sweden. It's a big part of their summer celebrations. The dance is simple and everyone can join in, no matter their age. It involves hopping and moving your arms to show the frog's missing parts.
Where Did the Song Come From?
The tune for Små grodorna comes from an old military song from the French Revolution. This song was called "La Chanson de l'Oignon" ("The Onion Song"). Its original words were about marching "in step, comrade."
When the French were fighting the British, the British made fun of the French. They changed the song's words to "Au pas, grenouilles!" which means "In step, little frogs!" This was a way to tease them. The same tune is still used in a French children's song today. We don't know exactly how the melody traveled to Sweden. However, the Swedish words were clearly inspired by the English version about frogs.
Små Grodorna Around the World
Even though Små grodorna is mostly a Swedish tradition, it has become famous online. Hundreds of videos of people singing and dancing it have been uploaded to YouTube. These videos show groups of all sizes, from small family parties in backyards to thousands of people gathered in parks.
Famous people have also sung the song. The Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie sang it in one of his game videos. You can also hear actress Caroline Lagerfelt singing it in the movie Minority Report, directed by Steven Spielberg. In the movie, she changes the word "ears" to "eyes" in the song.
The Lyrics
Here are the traditional words for Små grodorna in Swedish, followed by an English translation.
Swedish Lyrics
- Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
- Små grodorna, små grodorna är lustiga att se.
- Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
- Ej öron, ej öron, ej svansar hava de.
- Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
- kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
- Kou ack ack ack, kou ack ack ack,
- kou ack ack ack ack kaa.
English Translation
- The small frogs, the small frogs are funny to see.
- The small frogs, the small frogs are funny to see.
- No ears, no ears, no tails have they.
- No ears, no ears, no tails have they.
- Croak croak croak, croak croak croak,
- Croak croak croak croak a.
- Croak croak croak, croak croak croak,
- Croak croak croak croak a.
The Pig Verse
There is also a second part to the song that talks about pigs. This verse is sung to show a contrast to the frogs.
Swedish Pig Lyrics
- Små grisarna, små grisarna är lustiga att se.
- Små grisarna, små grisarna är lustiga att se.
- Båd öron, båd öron, och svansar hava de.
- Båd öron, båd öron, och svansar hava de.
- Å nöff nöff nöff, å nöff nöff nöff,
- å nöff nöff nöff nöff nöff.
- Å nöff nöff nöff, å nöff nöff nöff,
- å nöff nöff nöff nöff nöff.
English Pig Translation
- The little pigs, the little pigs are funny to observe.
- The little pigs, the little pigs are funny to observe.
- Both ears, both ears and tails do they possess.
- Both ears, both ears and tails do they possess.
- Oh oink oink oink, oh oink oink oink,
- oh oink oink oink oink oink
- Oh oink oink oink, oh oink oink oink,
- oh oink oink oink oink oink
See also
- Midsummer in Sweden
- Christmas in Sweden
