This song has long been considered a Russian folk song, but it was composed in 1860 by the Russian composer and folklorist Ivan Larionov (1830-1889). The title 'Kalinka (Калинка)' is a diminutive of 'kalina' or 'malina', plants resembling strawberries. The word 'lyuli (люли)' in the lyrics is originally said to be the name of pagan gods (a transformation of Lelio and Polelio), but here it is used like a call or an exclamation.