This children’s song is performed by Isaac Molho in the Molho Archive. It is also documented by Rabbi Michael Molho in his book Traditions & Customs of the Sephardic Jews of Salonica. In addition, it is included in the database of the Maale Adumim Institute in a version from the Turkish Sephardic tradition, which differs from the Greek variants.

This little song does not have a fixed melody and may be rhythmically recited by parents. The two versions included in the Flora Molho Archive, where the song is sung by her father, and the version recorded by Rabbi Molho share the same lyrics.

Rabbi Molho refers to this lullaby-like play, describing how the father would recite it to his young child. He would sing it while holding the child in his arms and, toward the end, would accelerate the words, ending in tickling. Rabbi Molho describes it as follows: The father also enjoyed another activity that delighted the child. He would take one of the baby’s little hands and, rubbing his finger in the center of the palm, would say with a smile on his lips: ‘Here the little hen lays a tiny egg.’ He emphasized the first syllable of the final word, prolonging his smile. Then he would take the five fingers and, starting with the thumb, lift them one by one, saying:[1]

Σημειώσεις [1] Molho, Michael, Traditions & Customs of the Sephardic Jews of Salonica, p. 76