Små grodorna
Swedish midsummer dance song about frogs lacking ears and tails.
Små grodorna—Swedish for "The Little Frogs"—is a traditional song and dance most often performed during Midsummer celebrations, with participants moving around a maypole. The choreography highlights body parts frogs don't have, specifically ears and tails. At Christmastime, Swedes sometimes sing it while circling the Christmas tree instead.
The tune is widely believed to be a traditional folk melody; a speculative connection to the chorus of a French Revolutionary military march, "La Chanson de l'Oignon" ("The Onion Song"), is not supported by established historical evidence. How the tune reached Sweden is unknown, but the Swedish lyrics are original and not directly derived from any known English version.
Though rarely performed outside Sweden, hundreds of videos of people singing and dancing "Små grodorna" have been uploaded to YouTube, with groups ranging from small backyard gatherings to thousands in fields and parks. The song appeared in popular culture when Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie sang it during a game of Prop Hunt. In Steven Spielberg's *Minority Report*, actress Caroline Lagerfelt sings it, replacing "ears" with "eyes" (ögon) in the lyrics; she plays a nurse to Peter Stormare's eye doctor. The Turkish nursery rhyme "Küçük Kurbağa" has similar lyrics and nearly the same melody, and is thought to originate from this song.
The traditional Swedish lyrics describe frogs as funny to see because they have no ears or tails, ending with a croaking refrain. An English translation follows the same structure. A second verse contrasts the frogs with pigs, which do have both ears and tails, and ends with oinking sounds.
- Origin
- Sweden
- Field
- Traditional dance and song
- Known for
- Performed at midsummer and Christmas; melody is a traditional folk tune
- Melody source
- Traditional folk tune (speculative connection to French Revolutionary march 'La Chanson de l'Oignon' is not historically supported)
- Lyrics inspiration
- Original Swedish lyrics, not derived from any known English version
Lore & Background
The melody of Små grodorna is widely believed to be a traditional folk tune; a speculative connection to the refrain of a French Revolutionary military march, 'La Chanson de l'Oignon' ('The Onion Song'), is not supported by established historical evidence. There is no reliable historical record of British enemies adapting the lyrics to 'Au pas, grenouilles!' ('In step, little frogs'), and the melody is not known to be used on military occasions in any widely recognized canon. It is not known how the melody ended up in Sweden, but the Swedish lyrics are original and not directly inspired by any English version.
Reader's Guide
Små grodorna holds significance as a central element of Swedish midsummer celebrations, a major cultural tradition. The song's dance involves mimicking frogs, specifically noting their lack of ears and tails, which adds a playful, participatory element. Its melody, tracing back to a French Revolutionary march, illustrates how cultural artifacts travel and transform across borders and contexts. The song has also appeared in popular culture, including in Steven Spielberg's Minority Report, where actress Caroline Lagerfelt sings it with 'eyes' replacing 'ears', and in a video by Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie. Hundreds of YouTube videos show performances ranging from family parties to large gatherings. A Turkish nursery rhyme, Küçük Kurbağa, with similar lyrics and melody, may have origins in this song, suggesting broader cultural influence. The inclusion of a second verse about pigs, which have both ears and tails, provides a contrasting humorous element.
Did You Know?
- The melody is widely believed to be a traditional folk tune; a speculative connection to a French Revolutionary march is not historically supported.
- There is no reliable historical record of British enemies adapting the march's lyrics to 'Au pas, grenouilles!'—the Swedish lyrics are original.
- In the film Minority Report, actress Caroline Lagerfelt sings the song but replaces 'ears' with 'eyes'.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Små grodona?
Små grodona, which translates to "The Little Frogs," is a traditional Swedish song-and-dance piece rooted in folk custom. It is not a narrative tale or a single character story but a participatory performance in which a group sings and moves together around a central pole.
When and how is Små grodona traditionally performed?
The piece is most commonly danced around a maypole during Midsummer celebrations, and at Christmastime Swedes sometimes sing it while circling the Christmas tree. In both settings the group moves in a circle, keeping the song and choreography tied to the season's communal gathering.
What makes the Små grodona choreography distinctive?
The dance deliberately draws attention to body parts that frogs do not possess—specifically ears and tails—by having participants gesture toward those areas. This playful contrast between human anatomy and the frog is the core comedic and rhythmic device of the routine.
Where does the Små grodona melody come from?
The tune is regarded as a traditional Swedish folk melody passed down through oral and communal practice. A popular online claim links it to the French Revolutionary march "La Chanson de l'Oignon," but no established historical evidence supports that connection.
Why is Små grodona considered important in Swedish folk culture?
It serves as a living bridge between summer and winter celebrations, giving communities a shared, embodied ritual that marks both solstice seasons. Because the lyrics are original Swedish verses rather than a translation, the song remains a distinctly Swedish expression of folk identity.
More in Swedish folklore 1-18
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