Ridda, Ridda Ranka

[Mary E. Leveille]

Can someone translate the cute little children's rhyme that goes.  Ridda, Ridda Ranka
                   Hästen Heter Blanca .....
I forget the rest of it.

[Margareta Danielsson]

Mary
I found this in Google http://home.pcisys.net/~don_erickson/rida.htm

[Maud Svensson]

The Swedish text and a translation is found at
http://home.pcisys.net/~don_erickson/rida.htm

[Ingela Martenius]

The rhyme is beautifully illustrated by a famous picture, by Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905).  
 
The picture hangs at the Atheneum in Helsinki.
 
In the rhyme, Blanka refers to Queen Blanka (d. 1363), born as Blanche, daughter of Comte Jean de Namur (Namur is in modern-day southeast Belgium), who in 1335 married King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden and Norway. The little boy on Blanka's lap (the rider) is probably her eldest son Erik (1339-59) who in 1355 led a rebellion against his father. Blanka was by some accused of poisoning Erik and his wife but modern research has shown this to be an unfounded allegation.
 
Ingela

[Ingela Martenius]

The rhyme is beautifully illustrated by a famous picture, by Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905).
 
http://www.disajn.com/Nr2-2005/108.jpg
 
The picture hangs at the Atheneum in Helsinki.
 
In the rhyme, Blanka refers to Queen Blanka (d. 1363), born as Blanche, daughter of Comte Jean de Namur (Namur is in modern-day southeast Belgium), who in 1335 married King Magnus Eriksson of Sweden and Norway. The little boy on Blanka's lap (the rider) is probably her eldest son Erik (1339-59) who in 1355 led a rebellion against his father. Blanka was by some accused of poisoning Erik and his wife but modern research has shown this to be an unfounded allegation.
 
Ingela

[Ann-Britt Sjödin Eriksson]

Hi mary. Do you also want the tunes for this song? I can write the whole melody for you if you wish.
Regards,
AnnBritt

[Pia Muller]

As a young girl I had a record with Rida, Rida Ranka and at the end it had two additional verses with a slightly different melody, freely translated: That's how she sang to her darling about life's adventures.  She smiled among tears, Mrs. Blanka of Namur.
And when King Håkan had conquered both spurs, a land and a bride, he remembered with sadness the message of the childhood song.
In Swedish:  Så sjöng hon för sin älskling om livets äventyr.  Hon log emellan tårar fru Blanka av Namur.  Och när kung Håkan vunnit båd' sporrar, land och brud, då mindes han med vemod den barndomssångens bud.
 
MVH   Pia

[Mary E Leveille]

Thank you all for your answers.