2-7. El parto feliz

These are six versions of the most well-known copla de parida. A rather complete version of this song was published by Binyamin ben Yosef in his chapbook, El buquieto de romanzas (Istanbul, 1926). The first version (CD 1, no. 2) is fragmentary, with two strophes and a refrain. The father of the newborn comes and brings fish on one hand and a string of ducats (coins) on the other. “Wine for everyone! Long live the newborn’s father! Long live the baby’s mother who gave birth to this handsome son, whose face resembles flowers!” Other versions (CD 1, nos. 3, 7) speak about the joy of birth after the nine strenuous months of pregnancy and the good luck in the delivery of a male child. “Blessed be He who led us to see this day,” says the refrain. When the midwife urges, “go, go!” the woman in labor cries, “Oh, God, save me soon!” and her people respond, 16 “Amen, amen!” The father of the newborn arrives with his guests and brings meat and fish in his hands. “Long live the baby’s father who brought good wine, appetizers and sweets.” In one of the versions it mentions that all was bought from Almosnino’s shop, a well-known Jewish pastry shop in Thessaloniki.

Two variants (CD 1, nos. 4-5) address the mother of the newborn. In song no. 4 she is asked: “What you have given birth to, that you filled the house with light?” The refrain exclaims: “Let the newborn be a good sign, a flourishing green pine! Long live the newborn and also his father.” Addressing the newborn’s mother the text says: “Your sufferings during the nine months of pregnancy were designed to give birth to a son whose face is like the moon.” The baby’s father approaches his wife’s bed and she complains that she had not eaten. The baby’s father is furious with everybody in the house: “Bring her stuffed chicken to eat, right away! Turn your face to the tables, mother of the newborn, and you will see how the handsome girls are eating and greeting each other.” The second version (no. 5) expresses blessings for the baby’s mother (la parida), the child’s father (el parido), and the baby. The mother eats the chicken and hides the bones by the bedside as protection against the evil eye. When she turns her face to the kitchen, she sees the cooks preparing the meal for the circumcision feast.