Ciranda, Cirandinha
Portuguese Nursery Rhyme
Original Lyrics
Ciranda, cirandinha,Vamos todos cirandar!Vamos dar a meia volta,Volta e meia vamos dar.
O anel que tu me destesEra vidro e se quebrou.O amor que tu me tinhasEra pouco e se acabou.
Por isso, Dona Rosa,Entre dentro desta roda.Diga um verso bem bonito,Diga adeus e vá se embora.
English Translation
Circle dance, little circle dance,Let's all dance in a ring!Let's make a half turn,A turn and a half we'll make.
The ring you gave meWas glass and broke.The love you had for meWas small and came to an end.
So, Dona Rosa,Come inside this circle.Say a lovely verse,Say goodbye and off you go.
History and Meaning
“Ciranda, Cirandinha” tells a group how to move, then gives one player a turn in the middle. The middle verse pairs two things that come to an end: a glass ring and a little love. Ciranda is the circle dance, cirandinha is its diminutive, and roda here means the ring of players.
How do you play?
- Hold hands, make a circle and walk in one direction as you sing.
- On the turn line, change direction together. Practise the switch at walking pace first.
- Sing the chosen player's name in place of Dona Rosa. The player steps into the middle, says a verse or a line they make up, waves and rejoins the circle.
The wording and the direction change follow the Goiânia municipal schools' circle-game lesson. Brazil's National Centre for Folklore and Popular Culture catalogue lists the traditional song as public domain. Try Alecrim Dourado for an easier circle song without a solo.
Lyrics from nurseryrhymes.info