Morena me llaman,
yo blanca nací:
de pasear, galana,
mi color pedrí
Morena me llama
el hijo del rey:
si otra vez me llama
yo me vo con el.
Vestida de novia
y de al tel-lí,
que pase el galano
a dar qedosín.
La palomba blanca
del ojo maví,
llevalde esta carta
al mi chelibí.
Escalerica l’hizi
d’oro i de marfil
para qhe suva novio
a dar kedoshim
I am called Morena (the Dark One) though I was born fair
From walking (in the sun)
I lost my color
Morena I am called
By the son of the king
If once again he calls me
I will go to him
The garment of the bride
Is embroidered in red
So that when the groom passes
He will bless her with kedoshim (marriage vows)
The white dove
With blue eyes
Will bring this letter to my love
I made a ladder
of gold and ivory,
so the bridegroom could climb
and give kedoshim.
From Kanta Gayiko, Judeo-Spanish songs from Bulgaria, 2025
This wedding song includes typically several themes: 1. from Song of Songs chapter "Do not see me as being dark, for the sun has darkened me". 2. The sailing of the ship and the the son of the King calling to her 3. The clothing of the bride 4. The ladder built from precious materials in order to symbolically elevate the groom who will be giving his bride "kedoshim" - sanctified marriage blessings.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025