National Library of Australia

 

FROM THE GREEK-AUSTRALIAN ORAL HISTORY AND FOLKLIFE PROJECT

Access conditions: Varied

This project was carried out between 1997 and 1999. The project manager was Gwenda Davey, the interviewer was Demetra Enzilis, and adviser to the project was Professor Stathis Gauntlett, Professor of Hellenic Studies at La Trobe University in Melbourne. The project was supported by the National Centre for Australian Studies at Monash University in Melbourne, as well as by the National Library. Interviews were conducted in both Greek and English, and with the exception of Gwenda Davey's interview with Demetra Enzilis, all recordings were made by Demetra Enzilis.

Selected excerpt from this collection

'Moon So Bright' is one of the best-known of all Greek nursery rhymes. It is often said to refer to the illegal Greek schools which were held at night during the Ottoman domination of Greece. Like English-language nursery rhymes such as 'Little Jack Horner' (sometimes said to refer to Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries), the 'political' origins of nursery rhymes are difficult to establish.

Moon so bright
Shine at night.
Light my way
To go to school
To work and play
And learn the rule
And all good things.

Children's folklore items found in this collection

TRC 3607/64-66. View record

Anna Matthews recorded in Melbourne in 1998. Discussion includes nursery rhymes, stories and tales told to children, 'the evil eye'. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/67. View record

Julie Caldis recorded in Melbourne in 1998. Discussion includes nursery rhymes, 'the evil eye'. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/44-45. View record

Demetra Enzilis recorded in Melbourne in 1998. Discussion includes nursery rhymes, folklore for children. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/69-70. View record

Kista Pappas recorded in Melbourne in 1998. Discussion includes nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/71-72. View record

Christina Gogorosis recorded in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes, stories told to children. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/75. View record

Anna Georgousis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/76. View record

Anastasia Sotiriadou interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607//77-78. View record

Frosso Kontis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/79-80. View record

Magda Pothitos interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/81-82. View record

Anna Gementzis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes, 'the evil eye'. Interview conducted in Greek.

TRC 3607/83-84. View record

Rita Packer interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/85. View record

Sophie Balafas interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes, lullabies, 'the evil eye'. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/86-87. View record

Christina Bakapanos interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/88. View record

Kathy Hatzipashalis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/89-90. View record

Stella Mastrakoulis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/91. View record

Eve Vafiadis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/92. View record

Maria Mastrakoulis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/93-94. View record

Joanna Kostakidis interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/95. View record

Maria Didomenicantonio interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/96. View record

Effie Papadopoulos interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/97. View record

Athanasia Longas interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/98. View record

Marie Sfetsos interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/99. View record

Dimi Ioannou interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses nursery rhymes. Interview conducted in English.

TRC 3607/100-102. View record

John Pandazopoulos interviewed in Melbourne in 1998. Discusses lullabies and the 'Evil Eye'. Interview conducted in English.
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