Lavaba la blanka ninia 2

From Ventanas Altas de Saloniki, 2013.

One of the few romansas with a practical role in the wedding ritual, traditionally sung in Saloniki by the women of the bride’s family, friends, and neighbors during the día del lavado de lana - the day devoted to washing the wool that would be used to stuff the mattresses and pillows for the newlyweds. The text, which is a dialogue,  revolves around a well-known medieval motif: the returning husband who tests his wife’s fidelity. In this version, the scene is set as the woman washes clothes. A knight, her husband, whom she does not recognize after years of absence, approaches and tells her that her husband died in his arms, leaving as a final wish that she marry the messenger. When she refuses, she proves her unwavering loyalty, after which the husband reveals his true identity. Uniquely in the Saloniki versions, the woman demands reciprocal proof: the knight must offer a sign about her that only her true husband would know, in this case, a beaty mark by her breast.  Traditionally, each second verse is repeated to the melody of the first half of the musical phrase. This repetition facilitates communal singing, as it allows one lead singer to carry the text while the others can easily join in. In this renewed version, this done only in the first and last verses,  due to considerations of length.

Lyrics:
Lavaba la blanca niña,    lavaba y espandía,
con lágrimas la lavaba,    y con sospiros la ‘spandía.
Por ahí pasa un caballero,    un copo de agua le demandó;
de lágrimas de sus ojos    siete cantaricas l’hinchó.
 - Por qué lloras, mi siñora?    por qué lloras, la mi alma?
- Mi marido se jue a la guerra    y aínda non hay venir.
- Dáme siñal, tú, mi siñora,    siñal del vuestro marido.
- Alto, alto como un pino,    derecho como es la flecha,
una barbica roya tiene    empezándo a despuntar.
- Ya lo vide, mi siñora, a la guerra matado 'stá .
mujerica hermosa tengo,    hijicos como ‘s la ‘strella,
la otra es, mi siñora,     que me case yo con ella.
- Siet’ años l’ asperí, siete,    más que mujer de pacencia,
si al de los siete non venera,    bivda ella quedaría.
- Yo era el vuestro marido,     el qu’atornó de la guerra.
- Si eras tú el mi marido,    siñal de mi puerpo tenías.
- En tu pecho derecho    un lunarico tenías. 

Translation:
The fair maiden was washing, was washing and spreading (to dry),
with tears she was washing, and with sighs she was spreading.
There passes by a gentleman, a cup of water he asked of her;
from the tears of her eyes seven jugs she filled.
- Why do you cry, my lady? Why do you cry, my soul?
- My husband went to the war and still has not returned.
- Give me a sign, you, my lady, a sign of your husband.
- Tall, tall like a pine, straight as is the arrow,
a little reddish beard he has just starting to appear.
- I already saw him, my lady, in the war he is killed.
(he said to me before he died:)
A lovely wife I have, little children like the stars,
the other thing is, my lady, that I should marry her.
- Seven years I waited for him, seven, more than a woman of patience,
if after the seventh he did not return, she (meaning herself) would remain alive (a widow).
- I was your husband, the one who returned from the war.
- If you were my husband, you would know a sign of my body.
- On your right breast   you have a little beauty mark.