Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou, simply known as DARIA, is dedicated to educating children about world music. As a world traveler and internationally known folksinger, DARIA draws from her experiences and delivers songs based on American and world folk music traditions.

DARIA is passionate about in the power of creating and sharing music. To encourage this, she regularly features multi-cultural activities as a resource for parents, teachers, homeschoolers and kids of all abilities. Whether she is making crafts such as button castanets, transforming a cardboard box into a cajon (a drum shaped like a box), or mimicking the sounds of a washboard using manila file folders and a spoon, Daria encourages kids and parents to really experience music in a holistic way.

We also enjoy DARIA’s monthly songs, which feature songs that are popular or represent celebrations in different countries around the world. This month, Daria posted lots of goodies for the upcoming holidays. In honor of Hanukkah, DARIA created two videos, the first of which is sung in English and Ladino (a mix of Spanish and Hebrew) for those that might be celebrating Hanukkah in Spain. 

If you are already a fan of Putumayo Kids, you will have no problem adding DARIA into your world music rotation. She is a talented musician with a beautiful voice that naturally captures the essence of a diverse range of cultures while also providing resources for kids to learn about world music in an experiential way. As Daria writes in her bio, “its all about empowering kids… letting them explore the world of music in a way that unlocks the amazing talent and inner beauty they naturally possess.” Definitely check her out!

“Oh Dreydl” and “Ocho Candelikas – A Hannukah Song (Eight Little Candles)” are featured on Daria’s holiday album, Celebrate the Seasons: Multicultural Songs for the Holidays by DARIA, which can be purchased through iTunes and Amazon.

And don’t miss Daria’s Dreidel Coloring Page and colorful instructions on How to Play the Dreidel Game.

You can also enter to win a musical triangle and a set of finger cymbals here.