Introduction

This is a collection of songs about holidays throughout the year combined with songs about special things that happen every day.

A wide variety of musical styles from the joyful mariachi trumpets of Cinco de Mayo, to the spooky sounds of Halloween Hike celebrate holidays for every season. On Martin Luther King Day, lift your voices together to show We Have A Dream. Let the drums and cymbals inspire your dragon dance as you sing Xin Nian Kuai Le to say Happy New Year in Chinese. Share a gentle message of friendship and caring with the Valentine's Song.

Birthdays are made extra special with the Birthday Medley of four cheerful songs.
You can choose one or do them all! Celebrate 4th of July with a blending of two classic American music styles – bluegrass and Dixieland jazz in Happy Birthday USA. Liven
up any party with a spirited game of tag as the little mice Scamper away from the hungry cat!

Sing and dance with the Halloween classic Witches' Brew, then clap and laugh with
A Turkey Tale and cheer the feisty turkey as it evades the farmer on Thanksgiving Day. As the days grow shorter, celebrate winter solstice and Christmas with the Sheltering Evergreen Tree; then sing the song again in the spring for Arbor Day.

Every day is a day to be thankful for Food in its many healthy varieties, and to wake up with the animals in Morning Time At The Zoo. Imagine a more harmonious world on the International Day of Peace as you sing Ki Va Moed, to say, "Now is the time." On Earth Day, or any day, marvel at the miracle of life with Nature's Sweet Endless Song and when you take time to notice seemingly ordinary things you realize the central theme of this album, Every Day's A Special Day!

Songs by Holiday and Special Day

We have a dream
We have seen the Promised Land
We are climbing up the mountain,
Together hand in hand

When we work as one community
We find the strength in unity
Providing opportunity
For all to learn and grow

We have a dream
We have seen the Promised Land
We are climbing up the mountain,
Together hand in hand

We have a dream, we see freedom in the air
We have a dream, for people everywhere

When we work as one community
We find the strength in unity
Providing opportunity
For all to learn and grow

We have a dream
We see freedom in the air
With justice and security
For people everywhere

We have a dream
We have seen the Promised Land
We are climbing up the mountain,
Together hand in hand
We are climbing up the mountain,
Together hand in hand

The line "We have a dream" begins each verse and occurs at regular intervals. This is called the "Instant Sing Line" because once you learn this simple phrase you can start singing. As you sing along you are hearing the rest of the words and before long you will know the whole song!

Note: In the Bible "Promised Land" refers to the land of Canaan, which was promised to Abraham and his descendants (Gen. 12:7). In general use, Promised Land means a place or situation in which someone expects to find greater happiness.

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2. Turkey Tale
Based on Two Traditional Folk Melodies
Additional Words and Music by Hap Palmer

A turkey ran away before Thanksgiving Day
Saying, "You would make a meal of me if I would stay."
And it ran, and it ran, and it ran, and it ran
Through the ice and freezing snow
And it ran, and it ran, and it ran, and it ran
As fast as it could go

Thanksgiving Day at the crack of dawn
The farmer shouted, "The turkey's gone!"
He followed its tracks to the barn next door
Where a stack of hay was piled on the floor

Turkey in the straw,
Turkey in the hay
Hiding from the farmer Thanksgiving day
Roll 'em up, twist 'em up, high tuck-a-haw
And sing a little tune called
Turkey in the Straw

The farmer looked high the farmer looked low
Said, "Where in the world did that bird go?"
With a gobble, gobble, gobble, the turkey teased
You can't find me and I'll do as I please

Turkey in the straw,
Turkey in the hay
Hiding from the farmer Thanksgiving day
Roll 'em up, twist 'em up, high tuck-a-haw
And sing a little tune called
Turkey in the Straw

The turkey popped up. The farmer dove in.
Hay and feathers went flyin' in the wind
All day long they circled around
'Til the farmer tripped and tumbled down

The turkey snuck away and did not make a sound
With silent steps it crept away and never more was found

This song is based on two traditional folk melodies. The first verse is the song
"A Turkey Ran Away." The next verses adapt the melody of the well-known song,
"Turkey In The Straw." The last verse returns to a quiet adaptation of the melody
for "A Turkey Ran Away."

Hand motions are easy to add:
1. When the turkey runs fast, quickly clap your hands or pat your legs.
2. Flap your hands as you sing along with the chorus, "Turkey in the straw turkey
       in the hay ... "
3. Roll your fists with a circular hand over hand rolling motion and shake your
      hands high as you sing, "Roll 'em up, twist 'em up, high tuck-a-haw ... "
4. In the last verse, clap your hands or pat your legs very softly as the turkey
      sneaks away.
Using the instrumental version, you can change the words slightly and sing this
      song for Christmas.

The first verse becomes:
A turkey ran away before a Christmas day
Saying, "You would make a meal of me if I would stay . . .

In the second part of the song you can sing:
Turkey in the straw
Turkey in the hay
Hiding from the farmer on Christmas day

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3. Valentine's Song
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

I'm going to make a heart of paper
And put it all together with glue
Valentine's Day is giving me a nice way
To say that I like you

Take a lot of love and take a lot of care
And put them in an envelope
Add a wish that there will be much we can share
And seal them up with hope

You mean a lot to me
I'm glad you're a friend of mine 
This I hope you'll see
When you read my valentine

I'm going to make a heart of paper
And put it all together with glue
Valentine's Day is giving me a nice way
To say that I like you

(Instrumental Interlude)

Take a lot of love and take a lot of care
And put them in an envelope
Add a wish that there will be much we can share
And seal them up with hope

You mean a lot to me
I'm glad you're a friend of mine
This I hope you'll see
When you read my valentine

I'm going to make a heart of paper
And put it all together with glue
Valentine's Day is giving me a nice way
To say that I like you

Valentine's Day can be more than store bought cards and candy. It's a good time to talk about friendship and caring. This song encourages children to make their own homemade valentine.

There are different ideas as to how the celebration of Valentine's Day began. One legend is that St. Valentine was a Roman priest in the third century. Claudius II, who ruled Rome, decided that single men made better soldiers and outlawed marriage for all young men serving in his army. Valentine, decided this was unfair and chose to marry young couples secretly. When Emperor Claudius II found out he had him imprisoned. Some stories say that the young couples, whom Valentine had married, gave flowers and letters to Valentine when they visited him in the prison.

In a different version of the legend, Valentine was an imprisoned man who fell in love with his jailor's daughter. He sent the first 'valentine' when he wrote her a love letter and signed it 'Your Valentine'. These words are still used on cards today. We may never know the true identity and story behind the man named St. Valentine, but February 14 has been the date to celebrate love for a long time, dating back to the Middle Ages.

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4. Holloween Hike
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Chorus:
Let's take a Halloween hike
A haunted Halloween hike
A spooky, haunted, Halloween hike
A spooky, haunted, Halloween hike

Whooo - What's that howling sound?
Maybe it's the hooting of an owl
It could be a coyote on the prowl
Or maybe it's a ghost gliding through
      a graveyard! Whooo ...
Let's get out of here! (Fast running music)

Repeat Chorus

(Thumping Sound) – What's that thumping sound?
Maybe it's a pumpkin bouncing down the trail.
Maybe it's a goblin banging on a pail
Or maybe it's a dinosaur stomping through the forest
(Loud stomping music)
Let's get out of here! (Fast running music)

Repeat Chorus

(Rattling Sound) - What's that rattling sound?
Maybe it's a seedpod rattling in the breeze
Maybe it's a baby shaking daddy's keys
Or maybe it's a skeleton dancing on a tombstone!
(Jingling tap dance)
It's getting dark! Let's get back home. (Fast running music)
Phew! Home at last!

Shut the door, lock it tight
Pull down the shade, turn on the light
Take a breath, we're safe tonight
From a spooky, haunted, Halloween hike.
A spooky, haunted, Halloween hike

This song is about a group of children walking through a forest on Halloween. They hear ordinary sounds that cause them to imagine scary things.  The idea is to show that many of our fears are imaginary. 

This is a fun story to act out in movement. Pretend you are walking through a dark and scary forest. Make the different sounds of scary things you hear in the recording. Imagine you are running to a quieter and safer place. After each verse, stop and take a deep breath. Each verse features a different noise – a howling sound, a thumping sound, and a rattling sound.
Finally, as it gets dark, you run back to the safety of your home.

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5. Happy Birthday U.S.A.
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Bring out the red white and blue
It's the Fourth of July
Happy Birthday U.S.A.
The congress declared this day
A special holiday
Happy Birthday U.S.A.

In seventeen seventy six
The thirteen colonies
Declared their independence
And a nation was born!

Light up the barbeque
We'll have a picnic in the park
Happy Birthday U.S.A.
Come throw and catch the Frisbee
It's the perfect day to play
Happy Birthday U.S.A.

(8 bar instrumental )

In seventeen seventy six
The thirteen colonies
Declared their independence
And a nation was born!

And when the sun goes down
We'll see some fireworks
Happy Birthday U.S.A.
Bright colors bursting high
Up in the starry sky
Happy Birthday U.S.A.
Happy Birthday U.S.A.

On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and our nation was born. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, concerts, and ceremonies. Parades are often in the morning, while fireworks displays occur in the evening at such places as parks, fairgrounds, or town squares.

Sing the instant-sing line, "Happy Birthday U.S.A." each time it occurs in this song.
You can also create motions you can do as you sing. Here are some possibilities:
Verse 1: Imagine you are in a parade and march in rhythm with the music.
             You can march in place or in a circle.
Verse 2: Clap your hands 2 times after lines 1 and 2.
             Take 8 steps on the beat with lines 3 and 4 then clap quickly 5 times.
Verse 3: Pantomime eating something made on a barbeque, then playing with a Frisbee.              Dixieland Instrumental Interlude: Free dance!
Repeat Verse 2
Verse 3: Jump up and down throwing arms out and exploding like fireworks in the sky.

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6. Nature's Sweet Endless Song
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Waves are rolling, flowing in and rushing out again
Waves are rolling, flowing in and rushing out again
Shifting sand, shaping land, ever on and on
Just singing nature's sweet endless song

Earth is turning, through the seasons spinning 'round and 'round
Earth is turning, through the seasons spinning 'round and 'round
Day and night, dark and light, ever on and on
Just singing nature's sweet endless song

Mists are rising, rising up to form the clouds so high
Raindrops falling, tiny droplets dancing from the sky
Rise and fall, through it all, ever on and on
Just singing nature's sweet endless song

The river flows so wild and free
Carving canyons, it curves and turns
Winding down to the sea

Flowers open, show their colors to the morning sun
Sharing pollen, closing gently when their work is done
Passing on, here and gone, ever on and on
Just singing nature's sweet endless song

When we cherish all that lives
The earth will always sing
Nature's sweet endless song

This song is about the patterns of nature that keep going in never-ending cycles. There is a rhythm to these cycles that we can represent as we sing and move. You can move in a fixed-seat setting or move freely in an open space. Use the following actions to represent the images described in the song:
Verse 1. Waves rolling - flowing, rolling wavelike motions.
Verse 2. Earth turning - turning, spinning motions.
Verse 3. Mists rising, raindrops falling - rising, falling motions.
Verse 4: River flows wild and free - turning, carving motions.
Verse 5: Flowers open - opening and closing motions. 

This is an excellent scarf activity. The scarves accentuate the flowing, turning, rising, falling, opening and closing motions described in the lyric.

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7. Cinco de Mayo
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Cinco de Mayo is holiday time
We honor the culture of Mexico
Cinco de Mayo is holiday time
To a fiesta we'll
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go -

We celebrate the rich traditions of the people of Mexico
Dancing through the streets as the Mariachi trumpets blow

(Instrumental)

Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go -

Celebramos con alegría la cultura de Mexico
Bailando en las calles con musica y buena comida

Cinco de Mayo is holiday time
We honor the culture of Mexico
Cinco de Mayo is holiday time
To a fiesta we'll
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la,
Go, go, go, la, la, la, la, la, go!

Move and dance as you sing. Create your own motions or try these:
Verse 1: Sway from side to side and snap your fingers on beats 2 and 4.
Verse 2: "Go, go, go, ..." Touch your knees, stomach and shoulders
              "La, la, la, la, la," Shake your hands high in the air.
Verse 3: Find all the ways you can jump and hop in place.
Repeat verses 1, 2, 3, 1 and end with verse 2 followed by 3 quick claps.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla. Mexican Americans often see the day as a source of pride; one way they can honor their ethnicity is to celebrate this day. The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has grown in popularity and evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.

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8. Scamper
Words by Martha Cheney and Hap Palmer
Music by Hap Palmer

Little mouse on quiet feet,
Yah yah, yah
Looks for something good to eat.
Yah, yah, yah
While the old Tomcat is snoring,
Little mouse will be exploring,
Looking for a midnight treat,
Yah, yah, yah

Scoots beneath the pantry door,
Yah, yah, yah
Knocks a bottle to the floor,
Yah, yah, yah
Old Tom wakes and hears the clatter,
Runs to see what is the matter,
Mouse don't wait a second more,
Yah, yah, yah

Scamper, scamper little mouse.
Scamper, scamper to your house.
Down the hall and through the wall,
Scamper, scamper little mouse.

Scamper, scamper little mouse.
Scamper, scamper to your house.
Down the hall and through the wall,
Scamper, scamper little mouse.
Scamper, scamper, scamper, scamper,
Scamper, scamper, hey!

This is a fun party song that can accompany a lively game of tag.
• One person plays the role of the cat.
• The cat lies down on the floor in the center of the room and pretends to be asleep.
• Everyone else pretends to be a mouse.
• The mice move around quietly looking for food and teasing the cat by singing
    "Yah, yah, yah."
• Both the cat and the mouse must move on hands and feet at all times.
• On the line "Old Tom wakes and hears the clatter,"- the cat wakes up and tries to
   catch the mice.
• When a mouse is touched it sits down and stops moving.
• Everyone freezes in place when the music ends

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9. Food
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

You need food and I need food,
All the creatures on earth need food!
Not just one kind, not just two,
But many different kinds of food!

Vegetables make a tasty treat
Grains and beans are great to eat.
Fruit from a tree, fish from the sea
Variety, now, that's the key

Broccoli, carrots, fresh tomatoes
Oranges, onions, sweet potatoes
Peaches, plums and nectarines
Spinach, squash and tangerines

You need food and I need food,
All the creatures on earth need food!
Not just one kind, not just two,
But many different kinds of food!

Apples, apricots, pears and cherries
Yogurt, yams, bananas and berries
Watermelon, eggplant, cottage cheese
Chicken, turkey and black-eyed peas

Cantaloupe, corn, kale, and kiwi
Mangoes, mushrooms, beets, zucchini
Rice, oats, barley, wheat
Milk, eggs, nuts and meat

You need food and I need food,
All the creatures on earth need food!
Not just one kind, not just two,
But many different kinds of food!

A joyful 50's rock style tune takes on the challenge of making healthy food choices appealing to children. Listeners are encouraged to savor a rich variety of foods that offer a full range of nutrients. The rhythmic rhymes show the many possibilities for replacing high fat and sugar snacks with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

You can do the following motions with the chorus:
You need food - Point away from yourself
And I need food, - Point toward yourself
All the creatures on earth need food - Make a large circle with your arms to show
the whole world.
Not just one kind – hold up one finger
Not just two – hold up two fingers
But many different kinds of food! – Hold hands high and wiggle all your fingers

Each person can hold a card with a picture of a food from the lyric of this song and stand when the food is called.

Follow up 1: The foods named in this song emphasize single ingredients. They could be combined to make another food. For example, you could use tomatoes, carrots, spinach, and kale to make a salad. Also, you could use meat, buns (made from wheat), tomatoes and onions to make a hamburger. Can you think of other foods that can be made with the ingredients named in this song? (Examples: soup, stew, casserole, omelet.)

Follow up 2: Think of a food that was not named in this song? (Examples: avocado, figs, bok choy, lentils, cabbage, lemons, turnips, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, okra, grapes). Make your own list of foods. Use the instrumental version of this song to sing your list of favorite nutritional foods.

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10. Morning Time At The Zoo
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

When the sun peeks through the trees
And it's morning time at the zoo
The birds all sing a merry song
Tweedle-lee, deedle-lee doo

There's no chattering, clattering crowd
To scare the shy panda bear
It merrily chews on shoots of bamboo
Enjoying the fresh morning air

Chorus:
Morning time, morning time
Everything seems alive before people arrive
When it's morning time at the zoo

The chimpanzees swing down to the ground
Excitedly searching for something to eat
They grunt and hoot and chomp on fruit
Then scamper about on their hands and feet

The giraffe reaches high in the trees
And munches on bunches of leaves
With its towering neck and long slender legs
It reaches the branches with ease

Repeat Chorus

The lions growl and stretch their paws
Revealing their sharp curving claws
They grab chunks of meat and tear them to eat
Chomping with powerful jaws

The penguins waddle down to the pool
And dive in the water refreshing and cool
And if they get hungry they soon get their wish
When the zookeeper brings in a bucket of fish

When the cool of night disappears
And the hot sun is starting to rise
The hippos walk down and stand in the lake
And all you can see is their eyes

Repeat Chorus

This song is about an imaginary zoo where animals live in a more natural habitat. The chimpanzees live in the trees instead of a cage. The giraffe has plenty of leaves to munch on and the hippopotamus has a lake to cool off in when it gets hot.

The chorus is very easy to learn and sing.
Morning time, morning time
Everything seems alive before people arrive
When it's morning time at the zoo

During the verses, you can act out each animal as it is named.
Verse 1: Sun rises and birds sing and fly about
Verse 2: Panda chews on shoots of bamboo
Verse 3: Chimpanzees scamper about on hands and feet
Verse 4: Giraffe reaches high and munches on leaves
Verse 5: Lion stretches its paws then tears and chews chunks of me
Verse 6: Penguins waddle to pool, swim and eat fish
Verse 7: Hippo walks into water getting lower with each step

Follow up: What are some other animals you might find in a zoo? (Examples: camel, elephant, gorilla, kangaroo, tiger, zebra )

What is your favorite animal?

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Birthday Medley: 11, 12, 13, 14
This Birthday Medley is made up of 4 short songs. Each song
in has its own track number and you can sing all 4 parts or
just choose one part.

11. Put Another Candle On Your Cake
Based on Birthday Polka by Sheriff John Rovick

Put another candle on your birthday cake
Your birthday cake, your birthday cake
Put another candle on your birthday cake
You're another year older today

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12. Out The Candles Go
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Candles flicker on your birthday cake
Lighting up the icing with a golden glow
Time to make a wish and take a breath (Inhale and exhale forcefully)
Out the candles go!
Yea, fill up your lungs, get ready to blow (Inhale)
Then whooosh, and out the candles go! (Exhale forcefully)

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13. Celebrate The Day
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Let's celebrate the day of your birth
When you joined all the creatures on this earth
The chickie said, "Peep," the lamb said, "Baaah"
(Make the sound of the baby chick and the lamb)
When you arrived, you hollered, "Waaaaahh"
(Make the sound of a crying baby)

Now we're here to wish you
A very happy birthday
A merry full of mirth day
A welcome to this earth day
Happy Birthday to you!

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14. Birthday Boogie
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Happy Birthday to you (Clap two times)
Happy Birthday to you (Clap two times)
Happy Birthday it's your day
Happy Birthday to you (Clap two times)

Happy Birthday (Say name of birthday person then clap two times)
Happy Birthday (Say name of birthday person then clap two times)
Happy Birthday it's your day
Happy Birthday to you (Clap two times)
Happy Birthday to you (Clap two times)

1. Put Another Candle On Your Birthday Cake is an adaptation of a short snippet from
a song by Sheriff John Rovick written in 1952 and titled "Birthday Cake Polka."
The original lyric was:
      Put another candle on my birthday cake
      We're gonna bake a birthday cake
      Put another candle on my birthday cake
      I'm another year old today

The next three parts are original songs with easy to join in activities.

2. Out The Candles Go: Wiggle your fingers to show the flickering candles.
Then inhale and exhale forcefully to blow the candles out.

3. Celebrate The Day: Make the sounds of a baby chicken, a baby lamb, and a baby human. When you sing this song at a birthday party you can use the name of the birthday child. For example: "Let's celebrate the day of Sarah's birth."

4. Birthday Boogie: This is an alternative to the traditional Happy Birthday song.
Sing "Happy Birthday to you" then clap your hands two times. In the 2nd verse
sing "Happy Birthday to ..." and include a name of the birthday person.
For example: "Happy birthday to David, clap, clap"

Each song in Birthday Medley has its own track number and you can sing all
4 parts or just choose one part.

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15. Xin Nian Kuai Le
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

In the wintertime when the moon is new
The dancing dragon and the lion appear
The drums and cymbals fill the air
Celebrating Chinese New Year

Xin Nian Kuai Le, Xin Nian Kuai Le
Gather your family and friends so dear
Xin Nian Kuai Le, Xin Nian Kuai Le
Wishing you a happy new year

The dragon's head floats up and down
As the dancers circle 'round and 'round
The lion crouches, springs and jumps
To the thumping of the big drum's sound

(Percussion Interlude)

May good fortune shine on all you try
Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin)
May the New Year bring you wealth and joy
Gong Hay Fat Choy (Cantonese)

Xin Nian Kuai Le, Xin Nian Kuai Le
Gather your family and friends so dear
Xin Nian Kuai Le, Xin Nian Kuai Le
Wishing you a happy new year

The instant-sing line for this song is Xīn Nián Kuài Lè . Phonetically, it is pronounced, "Sheen Nian Kwai Luh," This is how we say "Happy New Year" in Chinese. Xin Nian
(新年) means "New Year" and Kuai le (快樂) means happiness, joy, or delight.

The idea of good fortune and wealth are included with other greetings traditionally used during Chinese New Year. Both Gong Xi Fa Cai (Mandarin), and Gong Hay Fat Choy (Cantonese) are ways of saying, "Wishing you prosperity in the coming year."

Chinese New Year marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is celebrated between January 21 and February 20.  It is often an occasion for Chinese families to gather for a reunion dinner.

As you sing this song, listen for the changes in tempo from slow to fast and the changes in time signature from 4/4 to 6/8 meters. Try creating a dragon dance individually or in a group and respond to these changes. When doing an individual dance you can use a scarf and let it flow above your head to represent the dragon.

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16. Sheltering Evergreen Tree
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Deep in the forest lives a tall pine tree
And the animal friends it shelters and feeds
Making food for the squirrels
     and a home for the birds
It shares its needles and seeds

Chorus:
Swaying branches
     wave in the wind
As the needles whisper softly
And it reaches high to the heavens
Offering help to all who see
The sheltering evergreen tree

To the white tailed deer,
     a shield from the winter winds
To the songbirds,
     a nest in its loving limbs
To the weary traveler,
     shade from the midday sun
To the eagle and the and dove,
     a home when the day is done

Repeat Chorus

In the cold of winter in a sea of white
In the soft moonlight of the longest night
Its evergreen hue comes shining through
Saying life will soon renew

Repeat Chorus

You can use this song for multiple holidays including Christmas, Winter Solstice,
and Arbor Day. As you sing the chorus reach high in the air and sway from side to side

Variation: During the verses, children can hold up pictures of each thing named in the lyric.
Verse 1: Tall pine tree, squirrels, birds, pine needles, pine seeds
Verse 2: White tailed deer, songbird (blue jay, red winged blackbird, mockingbird,
blue bird, finch, nightingale, robin, oriole, etc.) hiker, eagle, dove
Verse 3: Pine trees in snow, winter moon

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. The evergreen tree was a symbol of everlasting life and ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. When families bring home their Christmas tree, they are following a tradition that is more than a thousand
years old.

In 1854, in Nebraska, Sterling Morton noticed a lack of trees, which were needed to act as windbreaks to stabilize the soil. He planted many trees around his home. In 1872, he proposed a holiday to plant trees. This was known as "Arbor Day." About one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day. All states in the US now have an official Arbor Day, usually at a time of year that is has the best weather conditions for planting trees. Arbor Day was recognized nationally in 1970 and is celebrated on the last Friday in April.

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17. Ki Va Moed – Salaam
Shlomo Carlebach, Mosh Ben Ari, and Sheva.
Arranged by Hap Palmer

Ya lai, lai, lai, lai, ya lai, lai, lai, lai
Ya lai, lai, lai, lai, ya lai, lai, ya lai, lai
Ki va moed, Ki va moed
Ki va moed, Ki va moed

Ya lai, lai, lai, lai, ya lai, lai, lai, lai
Ya lai, lai, lai, lai, ya lai, lai, ya lai, lai
Ki va moed, Ki va moed
Ki va moed, Ki va moed

Od yavo' shalom aleinu Od yavo' shalom aleinu
Od yavo' shalom aleinu V' al kulam
Od yavo' shalom aleinu Od yavo' shalom aleinu
Od yavo' shalom aleinu V' al kulam

Salaam, Aleinu v' al kol ha-olam, Salaam, Shalom
Salaam, Aleinu v' al kol ha-olam, Salaam, Shalom

Peace will come upon us, peace will come upon us
Peace will come upon us, now is the time
Peace will come upon us, peace will come upon us
Peace will come upon us, now is the time

Salaam, peace everywhere in the world, Salaam, Shalom
Salaam, peace everywhere in the world, Salaam, Shalom

Od yavo' shalom aleinu Od yavo' shalom aleinu
Od yavo' shalom aleinu Ve al kulam

Ki va moed, Ki va moed
Ki va moed, Ki va moed

This song is very easy to sing. It has the following repeating phrases:
Verses 1 and 2: Ya lai, lai, lai, lai, and Ki va moed
Verse 3: Od yavo' shalom aleinu
Verse 4: Salaam, Shalom
Verse 5: Peace will come upon us
Verse 6: Salaam, peace everywhere in the world, Salaam, Shalom

"Ki va moed" comes from Psalm 102:14 and means, "the appointed time has come." The song can be sung any time we want to sing "Now is the time for peace." Salaam means peace in Arabic and shalom means peace in Hebrew and is also used as a word of greeting or farewell. The words, Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu Ve'Al Kulam translate to "Again peace will come upon us, and everyone."

The arrangement was inspired by versions from Leo Baeck Temple, Camp Shalom, Shlomo Carlebach, Mosh Ben Ari, and Sheva.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which is held annually on the third Tuesday of September.

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18. Witches' Brew
Words by Martha Cheney and Hap Palmer
Music by Hap Palmer

Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too
Stir them in my Witches' Brew
I got magic, Alakazamakazoo

Spider web, moldy bread, mucky mud, too
Stir them in my Witches' Brew
I got magic! Alakazamakazoo

     Ooo - My Witches' Brew - Ooo
     What's it gonna do to you? Boo!

Floor wax, thumb tacks, purple paint, too
Stir them in my Witches' Brew
I got magic, Alakazamakazoo

Finger nails, lunch pails, apple cores, too
Stir them in my Witches' Brew
I got magic, Alakazamakazoo

     Ooo - My Witches' Brew - Ooo
     What's it gonna do to you? Boo! 

Wrinkled prunes, mushrooms, motor oil, too
Stir them in my Witches' Brew
I got magic, Alakazamakazoo
Yeah, yeah! I got magic, Alakazamakazoo

This updated version of the Halloween favorite "Witches' Brew," features a lively children's chorus that encourages listeners to sing along. Each verse ends with the same line, "Stir them in my witches' brew; I got magic, al-a-ka-zam-a-ka-zoo." We call this the "instant sing line" because children can learn it easily and can begin singing right away. As they are participating, children are hearing and learning the rest of the song. Hand motions add to the fun! Imagine there is a large black cauldron in front of you and pretend you are making a magical "Witches' Brew." Here are some possible motions:

Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too
      As ingredients are named pretend to throw them into a cauldron.
Stir them in my Witches' Brew
      Do a stirring motion.
I got magic, Alakazamakazoo
      Shake hands over an imaginary cauldron.
Ooo - My Witches' Brew - Ooo
      Sing a scary soft "ooh" sound while making flying motions with your
      hands and arms.
What's it gonna do to you? Boo!
      Make a sudden scary movement and shout "Boo!"

You can repeat these motions for each verse or make up your own movements.

Follow up: You can make up your own list of ingredients for the witches' brew.
Start with the question, "If you were making a witches' brew, what would you put
in it?" Make a list and sing this song with your ideas, accompanied by the
instrumental version.

Note: It's important to emphasize that witches are imaginary and not real. If you are not comfortable with the idea of witches, feel free to change the lyric and substitute the words "Halloween Stew" for "Witches' Brew." For example:
      Dead leaves, seaweed, rotten eggs, too
      Stir them in my Halloween stew
      I got magic, Alakazamakazoo

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19. Every Day's A Special Day
Words and Music by Hap Palmer

Chorus:
When you open your eyes to the subtle surprise
Every day's a special day
Though clouds may disguise the morning sunrise
Every day's a special day

The varied patterns of the lines on a leaf
The swirling path as it falls to the earth
The infinite shapes of the trees in the winter
'Though the branches are bare the beauty is there

Repeat Chorus

Your beating heart, as you walk up a hill
The land expanding and filling the view
The tilting hawk as it glides on the breeze
The feeling of breathing fully and freely

Things you don't usually see
Pop out when you pause from the rush
Something so simple it's always been there
Comes out of hiding somewhere

When you open your eyes to the subtle surprise
Every day's a special day
Though clouds may disguise the morning sunrise
Every day's a special day
Every day's a special day
Every day's a special day

The beautiful understated features of the natural world are easily overlooked with the fast pace of modern life. When we are assaulted with visual and auditory stimulation through electronic media and digital devices our senses can be deadened to the faint and delicate qualities of nature. Getting away from the noise and taking a walk can restore the senses and refresh the soul. The message of this song encourages us to notice things that may be disguised or in the background.

The instant-sing line for this song is, "Every day's a special day." It repeats each time we sing the chorus.

Follow up: Are there things that have made this day special for you? Use the instrumental version of this song to create a lyric that includes things you have noticed that make the day special.

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