Some people might already know this, and I think I've mentioned it briefly before, that Bollan is named after a Norwegian children's song, written by Alf Prøysen. Here is the lyrics for the song, translated into English by my boyfriend.
Bolla the Hedgehog
As the sun rises round and yellow and colors the hilltops,
all the forest animals know that soon they must get up.
And the birds they begin their alarm clock choir,
then it rattles in the ditch where fern leaves grow.
For now Bolla the Hedgehog shall go to school.
The first thing Bolla the Hedgehog does, is collecting water.
She washes her face and paws as best she can,
and mum brushes her spikes that are standing every which way,
and even though mum pulls [the spikes] it doesn’t matter at all,
for now Bolla the Hedgehog shall go to school.
And mum makes her lunch, can you guess what it is?
Eight pieces of bacon and four raspberries,
and then a small drop of milk, which makes Bolla happy,
for father hedgehog has said that none shall touch it,
for it is reserved for Bolla the Hedgehog to have at school.
And now Bolla is all dressed, and now Bolla can leave,
she strolls over the yard, underneath blueberry heather and straw,
along the hedge over by the hill, around a huge pine tree,
she thinks a little about mum, but waddles determined on,
for now Bolla the Hedgehog shall go to school.
In the forest there’s a pine grove with four stumps,
and that’s the animal school, where Bolla the Hedgehog shall go.
School is lots of fun, with lots of children together,
she crawls up on her stump and grunts a cheerful “good day”.
For now Bolla the Hedgehog has arrived at school.
The original lyrics in Norwegian:
Bolla Pinnsvin
Tekst: Alf Prøysen
Når sola stiger rund og gul og farger åsens topp,
vet alle dyr i skoge at nå skal de snart stå opp.
Og fuglene de starter med sitt vekkerklokkekor,
da rasler det i grøfta der hvor bregneløvet gror.
For nå skal Bolla Pinnsvin gå til skolen.
Det første Bolla Pinnsvin gjør, det er å hente vann.
Hun vasker fjes og labbene så godt hun bare kan,
og mamma børster piggene som stritter rundt omkring,
og selv om mamma lugger gjør det ingen verdend ting,
for nå skal Bolla Pinnsvin gå til skolen.
Og mamma smører niste, kan du gjette hva det er?
Jo, åtte stykker museflesk og fire bringebær,
og så en liten melkeskvett, og da blir Bolla gla'
for pinnsvinfar har sagt at den får ingen lov å ta,
for den skal Bolla Pinnsvin ha på skolen.
Og så er Bolla ferdigkledd, og så kan Bolla gå,
hun tusler over tunet under blåbærlyng og strå,
langs hekken borti bakken rundt et digert furutre,
hun tenker litt på mamman sin men kjabber trutt avsted,
for nå skal Bolla Pinnsvin gå til skolen.
I skogen er en furulund med fire stubber på,
og det er dyreskolen, dit skal Bolla Pinnsvin gå
På skolen er det moro, der er mange barn i lag,
hun krabber opp på stubben sin og grynter blidt goddag.
Og så er Bolla Pinnsvin nådd til skolen.
