Lyrics & Listening Tips for the Playlist The Key from Spain (Flory Jagoda Songs)

Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) is the language that connects Sephardic Jews to their cultural roots in Spain, and the Ladino music of Flory Jagoda (“the Keeper of the Flame”) helped preserve that heritage in the U.S. This playlist features three Ladino songs written and performed by Flory Jagoda.

Listening Tips

Laz Tiyas (The Aunts)

Can you hear any of these Jewish holiday names and words in the song – Hanuka (Hanukkah), kandelikas (Ladino for little candles), hanukiya (Hanukkah menorah), Hagada (Passover guidebook), albondikas (Ladino for matzah balls), Un Kavrikiko (the Passover song Had Gadya, one little goat), suka (sukkah, the temporary hut built for Sukkot), birahas (blessings), mishpaha (family)?

Buen Shabat (About Shabbat)

What feeling do you have when you hear Flory Jagoda playing her accordion?

Ocho Kandelikas (Eight Little Candles)

In Spanish we count: uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho. How do you count to eight in Ladino? (Hint: It’s almost the same as Spanish, but not quite!)

Song Lyrics

LAZ TIYAS (The Aunts)

Written and performed by Flory Jagoda

Tiya Mazalta muz va a yamar nochi di Hanuka (Aunt Mazalta will invite us on Hanukkah night)
Tiya Grasya muz va a yamar nochi di Hanuka (Aunt Grasya will invite us on Hanukkah night)
Para sinder laz kandelikas kun toda la mishpaha (To light the little candles with the whole family)
Laz hanukiyas di sirma blanka muz kali alimpyar (The menorahs of shiny silver must be polished)

Tiya Luna muz va a yamar nochi di Hagada (Aunt Luna will invite us on Passover night)
Tiya Safira muz va a yamar nochi di Hagada (Aunt Safira will invite us on Passover night)
Para kumer laz albondikas kun toda la mishpaha (To eat matzah balls with the whole family)
Kantaremus Un Kavrikiko dispuez di laz birahas (We will sing Had Gadya after the blessings)

Tiya Paloma muz va a yamar a kumer in la suka (Aunt Paloma will invite us to eat in the sukkah)
Tiya Estreya muz va a yamar a kumer in la suka (Aunt Estella will invite us to eat in the sukkah)
Kun frutas i flores di muchas kolores kun toda la mishpaha (With fruits and flowers of many colors, with the whole family)

BUEN SHABAT (About Shabbat)

Written and performed by Flory Jagoda

Buen Shabat kun salud i vida a toda la familya (On Shabbat we wish good health and life to the whole family)

Buen Shabat kun salud i vida anyus. muchus kun pas i alegriya (On Shabbat we wish good health and life, and many years of peace and happiness)

OCHO KANDELIKAS (Eight Little Candles)

Written and performed by Flory Jagoda

Hanukah linda sta aki (A beautiful Hanukkah is here)
Ocho kandelas para mi (Eight candles for me)
O…
Una kandelika (One little candle)
Dos kandelikas (Two little candles)
Tres kandelikas (Three little candles)
Kuatro kandelikas (Four little candles)
Sintyu kandelikas (Five little candles)
Sej kandelikas (Six little candles)
Siete kandelikas (Seven little candles)
Ocho kandelas para mi (Eight candles for me)

Muchas fiestas vo fazer (I will host lots of parties)
Kon alegriyas y plazer (With joy and pleasure)
O….

Los pastelikos vo kumer (I will eat little pastries)
Kon almendrikas y la myel (Of almonds and honey)
O…

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