Canta, gallico, canta (Los deseos del gallo)

Judeo-Spanish Songs for the Life Cycle in the Eastern Mediterranean
Judeo-Spanish Songs for the Life Cycle in the Eastern Mediterranean
Canta, gallico, canta

Rosa Avzaradel-Alhadef (Rhodes)


This song contains two series of parallel strophes. One series (first, second, and fifth strophes) asks (or orders) the rooster to sing, announcing the new day (which dispels the dangers of the night before the circumcision). By noon, the mothers start preparing food. The other series (third and fourth strophes) lists the different garments that the rooster wants: a cap (una chulahita; in Turkish, kulah) that fits well (yakiseia; in Turkish, yakismak) to his forehead, little boots (in Turkish, potin) to fit his little feet, and a shirt to fit his little belly.

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