Fieldwork Archive
Arroz con leche
Performed by Giselle Rodriguez.
Recorded September 14, 2024 in Sherman, Connecticut.
Learned as a youth in Argentina.
This Hispanic children's song is said to have originated in France in the 14th century.
It is featured in children's circle games that teach gender and class roles.
The verse this informant sings would be sung by boys in the circle; a second verse not included in this recording would be sung by a girl who picks a boy she likes from the circle.
Arroz con leche, or rice pudding, is a popular dessert in Hispanic countries. This reference is speculated to be an outgrowth of the ancient tradition of throwing rice at weddings as a blessing for fertility and prosperity.
Arroz con leche,
me quiero casar
con una señorita
de San Nicolás
que sepa tejer,
que sepa bordar,
que sepa abrir la puerta
para ir a jugar.
me quiero casar
con una señorita
de San Nicolás
que sepa tejer,
que sepa bordar,
que sepa abrir la puerta
para ir a jugar.
Rice pudding,
I want to get married
to a young lady
from St. Nicholas
who knows how to knit,
who knows how to embroider,
who knows how to open the door
to go out and play.
I want to get married
to a young lady
from St. Nicholas
who knows how to knit,
who knows how to embroider,
who knows how to open the door
to go out and play.
