The Debate of the Flowers

Ladino coplas are narrative strophic poems, many of which were to be sung. They typically concern topics connected to the Jewish world, such as biblical stories and figures or historical and life-cycle events. Some had a paraliturgical function, like this poem, “Debate de las flores” (The Debate of the Flowers), which describes a competitive debate between various flowers and was sung on Tu bi-Shevat, the New Year for trees, and in some places, also on the festival of Shavuot. The poem circulated widely in both manuscript and printed form. It became particularly popular among Moroccan Jews, who adapted it to their surroundings and sang it at wedding celebrations. It is attributed to Judah Cal’i (eighteenth century), but seems to have been based on a traditional Balkan folk song. Cal’i composed a similar poem for Tu bi-Shevat describing a debate between fruits, as well as one for Shavuot about the giving of the law.