Winter is the time for stars at night and festivals with candles and twinkling lights. This traditional wish is a gentle rocking song which can be spoken quietly or sung just on a chant (think of the melody for 'See saw, Marjorie Daw' and use the same two chanting notes). The children can sing it swaying gently from side to side, and babies and toddlers always enjoy being cuddled and rocked.
Star-light, star bright, first star I see tonight Wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.
Next is a traditional Gujerati rhyme about stars, written phonetically here and not in Gujerati script: Tara dhima dhima avo, Tara rumwane sau avo Tara rupa gedi lavo Tara dhima dhima avo When translated this means, 'The stars come gently, The stars come to play with me, The stars bring silver, The stars come gently'.
Many traditional occasions include the lighting of candles or carrying torches and lanterns. This song (to the tune of 'Twinkle, Twinkle') can accompany lighting of candles or bulbs in a traditional seven-candle holder: Seven little candles in a row, Waiting to join the holiday glow.
We will light them one by one Until all seven have joined the fun.
Seven little candles burning bright Filling the world with holiday light.
And here are two traditional English rhymes about candles.
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack JUMP over the candle stick!
Children enjoy bouncing rhythmically on the spot to get ready for 'Jack be nimble, Jack be quick' and then do a big jump for the final line.
Jeremiah, blow the fire - puff, puff, puff - - One child stands in the middle of the circle being the candle, with the rest in a circle around them chanting the rhyme. Each 'puff' gets bigger until the pretend candle is blown out.
