Teru teru bozu(てるてる坊主), How Amusing..

About 2 weeks ago, it was raining heavily. As I was chatting with my friend(I mean thorugh msn), he was talking about this weird doll thingy which u hang at the window or outdoors to chased the bad weather away. At first, I was amuse about this funny culture, hanging dolls during rainy days... hmmm...
Then later, he sent me a link on the information...
Teru teru bozu(Shiny-shiny buddhist priest) is a little traditional handmade doll..
Like the one below, which I made out of old cloth.
Cute, isn't it?? ^w^
Well, long long ago in japan, a group of farmers would like to hang this paper hand made dolls by the windows to stop or prevent rainy days.
The word "Teru" is a japanese word which means sunshine. And the word "Bozu" means buddhist monk. Or in modern slang, bold headed.
This tradition is quite popular during Edo era. Children would like to make em' and hung em' at their household windows, and sing a song.
Today, children make Teru teru bozu out of tissue paper or cotton.
They would always sing a song.
I got a sample lyric here, which I got from wiki,
Japanese:
てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず
明日天気にしておくれ
いつかの夢の空のように
晴れたら金の鈴あげよ

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず
明日天気にしておくれ
私の願いを聞いたなら
甘いお酒をたんと飲ましょ

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず
明日天気にしておくれ
もしも曇って泣いてたら
そなたの首をちょんと切るぞ

the romaji version:
eru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu
Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure
Itsuka no yume no sora no yō ni
Haretara kin no suzu ageyo

Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu
Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure
Watashi no negai wo kiita nara
Amai o-sake wo tanto nomasho

Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu
Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure
Moshi mo kumotte naitetara
Sonata no kubi wo chon to kiru zo

translated version:
Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
Like the sky in a dream sometime
If it's sunny I'll give you a golden bell

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
If you make my wish come true
We'll drink lots of sweet rice wine

Teru-teru-bozu, teru bozu
Do make tomorrow a sunny day
But if it's cloudy and you are crying (i.e. it's raining)
Then I shall snip your head off

Well, that's all for today...