Sung by Flora Benamor. Tetuán, 1956.

The bath referred to here is the mikvah, where rituals with refreshments and songs are held to celebrate a coming marriage. Orthodox women also go every month after menstration, as well as after childbirth to cleanse them of "impurities". In the Tetuán mikva, built on two levels, most guests remained in the dry upper level while the married relatives descended below to the actual bath.

The ceremony included dressing and undressing the bride, and leading her into the cold water. Incidently, the ritual provided the prospective mother-in-law an opportunity to see the naked body of her future daughter-in-law, and report back to her son. Was a bride ever rejected for being malformed, too thin or fat, too hippy or flat-chested? There is no mention of the subject, but this song warns the bride to bring her mother for protection, and to be especially nice to her mother-in-law.

f you go to the bath, bride,
Take your mother with you,
and don't go alone,
Take your mother with you,
and don't go alone.

She will be your bather,
To put you in the cold water,
To dress you in a white gown.

If you go to the bath, bride,
Take your mother-in-law with you,
and don't go alone,
Take your mother-in-law with you,
and don't go alone.

She will be your bather,
To put you in the clear water,
To make you white, slender.

My daughter, if your mother-in-law comes,
Kiss her hand and seat her at the table.

Sung by Flora Benamor. Tetuán, 1956.

Si te fueres a bañar, novia
lleva a tu madre,
y no vayas sola,
lleva a tu madre,
y no vayas sola.

Ella será tu bañadora,
para meterte en el agua fría,
para ponerte blanca camisa.

Que si te fueres a bañar, novia,
lleva a tu suegra,
y no vayas sola,
lleva a tu suegra,
y no vayas sola.

Ella será tu bañadora,
para meterte en el agua clara,
para ponerte blanca, delgada.

Hija mía, si viene la tu suegra,
besa la mano y ponla a la mesa.