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Μαρία πάει για πασχαλιές
Maria’s gone to pick some lilac, a nightingale is singing,
she goes to gather lilac blossom in vineyards and in paddocks.
And as she gathers lilac blossom, with laughter and a burst of song,
she finds the nightingale that carols.
She creeps towards it on tip-toe, in fear lest she perchance disturb it,
and stop the songbird singing.
She stood a while admiring it, and it became aware of her,
but carolled to her sweetly.
Translated by John Leatham
Μαρία πάει για πασχαλιές, λάλησ’ αηδόνι μ’ λάλησι,
πασχαλίτσις να μαζέψει, μες στ’ αμπέλια στα χουράφια.
Μαζώνουντας τις πασχαλιές, γελώντας τραγουδιώντας,
βρίσκ’ αηδόν’ που κελαηδούσι.
Αγάλια-αγάλια του ζυγών’ να μην του ξινουμίσει,*
να τ’ αφήσ’ να κελαηδήσει.
Έκατσι του καμάρουνι κι ’κείνου την τηρούσι
κι γλυκά την κελαηδούσι.
*ξινουμίσει: ξαφνιάσει
The young girls’ tapeinoi (modest) and xesyrtoi dances are followed on Easter Sunday in Karoti by zonaradika dances, like this one, in which all the villagers take part.
Zoe Margari (1998)
According to the Doitsidi sisters, the song is performed on all three days of Easter, which is how long the celebration lasts. In the morning, the tapeinoi dances are performed, at midday the dances are livelier, and in the afternoon, the petakhtoi dances are performed, also called kouseftoi, meaning running dances (kouseuo = to run).
Studio recording (1997).
Singers
Singers
Clarinet
Violin
Constantinopolitan lute
Goblet drum
