Parida, esta la parida Que lo crie con alegria Ay, parida estaba de un ninio Mejorado, quatro y cinco Parrida, cuerpo garrido Dios te guarde y to marido Que si paritis un ninio Comieras ricas comidas Si paritis un ninia Ay, comeras ricas gallinas
Mother, here is the mother
May she raise him with joy
Oh, the mother was with a boy
Strong and healthy, four and five Mother, graceful body
May God protect you and your husband
If you give birth to a boy
You will eat rich foods
If you give birth to a girl
Oh, you will eat fine chickens
Jerusalem National Sound Archives placement: Y5457/1 Referenced and notated in: Judeo-Spanish Moroccan Songs for the Life Cycle, pg. 34, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1989 Susana Weich-Shahak. This song precedes the ritual of circumcision, praising the mother of the new born, wishing her more children, and blessing her and her husband. Here, like in other songs of this kind, the difference of food offered to mothers of boys versus mothers of girls is mentioned.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025