Oy, qué buena que fue la hora
que vos alcancí,
con dos minianim de gente
qedoshín vos di.
Ansí, ansí, mi galana, ansí,
ansí, ansí, mi alma, ansí.
Yo le hice ‘nas buriquitas
y se las mandí,
porque era mi primo hermano,
de él me namorí.
Ansi, ansi….
Yo pasí por la vuestra puerta
horas de arví,
pasí y torni, non vos vide,
l’alma tengo ahí.
Ansí, ansí…
El primer día del año,
cuando yo sposí
de la alegría , mi madre,
comer no comí.
Ansí, ansí…
Oh it was a good hour
that I attained you
with 2 minianim of men
I will give you Kidushim.
So, so, my beautiful young woman,
so so, my soul, so
I made him some buriquitas
and sent them to him,
because he was my first cousin,
I fell in love with him.
So, so…
I passed by your door
at the hour of Arvit
I went back and forth, but did not see you
My soul is there (with you)
So, so…
On the first day of the year,
when I married
from the joy, my mother,
I couldn’t eat.
So, so…
From Kanta Gayiko, Judeo-Spanish songs from Bulgaria, 2025
This wedding cantiga structured in a Balkan asymmetrical meter of 9/8, describes the gifts that the bride and groom give to each other, while in the repeating chorus is also a reference to dancing.
A minian - a group of ten Jewish men congregating for prayer.
Kidushim - sanctified wedding blessings.
Arvit - the Jewish evening prayer.
Buriquitas - savory pastries.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025