PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This page contains a translation into English of the lyrics to the popular Pontic Greek song "Mana En Krion Neron" (Η Μάνα Εν Κρύο Νερό), which was sung by Petros Gaitanos and many others. The song has been around since the 1960's, so he was not the first.

Also included is a pronunciation guide for the Greek lyrics so you can sing along if you like.

Song lyrics are provided for educational purposes. If you like the song, please purchase either the album or a download from an authorized source.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Panayiota (the translator) is held by her Pontian mother, Evangelia Symeonidou Bakis (Ευαγγέλια Συμεωνίδου Μπακη). At the time of this photo, they were in the Anatolian Greek refugee district of Ayios Konstantinos (Άγιος Κωνσταντίνος) Agrinio (Αγρινίου).

About Pontus

This song's lyrics were created in the the Pontian version of Greek, whose roots lie in the language of ancient Greece rather than the Modern Greek spoken in the country Greece today. Pontian was the language spoken in Pontus. The Modern Greek language was never spoken in Pontus. In addition to having their own language, the majority of Pontians (including my great-grandparents) were also fluent in Ottoman Turkish.

Pontus is a region within modern-day Turkey that lies on the south side of the Black Sea. Since ancient times, Hellenic Pontus covered a large mountainous region, and possessed great wealth, including silver mining. The Turkish people call this region Karadeniz.

Historically, Pontus consisted of a primarily Greek population, although some other ethnic groups lived there as well. Due to invasion in the 17th century, this primarily Greek region became part of the Ottoman empire and remained part of it until the fall of the Ottomans after World War I. The overthrow of the Ottomans led to the forced mass exodus of millions of Anatolian Greeks and other Christians.

To this day, there are many crypto Christian Pontians. If you visit the region, you will encounter many who still speak the Pontian language!

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Panayiota (the translator) is held by her Yiayia (grandmother) Despina Fitopoulou- Symeonidou (Δέσποινα Φυτοπουλου- Συμεωνίδου) in the Anatolian Greek refugee district of Ayios Konstantinos (Άγιος Κωνσταντίνος) Agrinio (Αγρινίου).

About this Song

Pontian people consider this song to be the Pontian Anatolian Greek national anthem of the Mother.

One of the most popular recordings of this song is by Petros Gaitanos, a renowned chanter and scholar of Byzantine music who included it on his 1998 platinum album Agera, Eros and Armyra.

There have also been many other recordings and versions including those by Stelios Kazantzidis and Vasilis Karas. I am not sure when the first actual recording of this song was released. Many say it has been around since the 1960s.

Many people consider this song to be a hymn to motherhood, making it popular for Mother's Day as well as for Pontian Remembrance Day. It has become widely popular among Pontians and non-Pontians alike.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This is the translator's paternal grandmother, Panayiota Smyrniou-Bakis (Παναγιώτα Σμυρναίου-Μπακη), who is of Spartan and Anatolian Greek heritage.

About Dancing to this Song

The appropriate dance style to do with this song is Tik, which is a traditional line dance from Pontus that moves in a circle. Tik is a dance that children learn from their parents and grandparents at community celebrations as they are growing up. It comes in many variations and speeds, depending on which region of the Pontian Black Sea the dancer comes from.

Tik is considered to be the stepping stone in learning the ancient historic war dance called "Serra" (Σέρρα), which is also known as "Pyrichios" (Πυρρίχιος). Only the physically fit and those who have mastered the extremely fast foot work can keep up!

In Pontian dance, regardless of speed, it really isn't just about steps or dancing on the beat and rhythm. In Pontian music, there are many times within the musical phrase where musicians playing the daouli (νταούλι) and kemence (Κεμεντζέ) pause. In these moments, it is extremely difficult to remain on the correct steps. Thus, it is very important to understand and master the most basic form of Tik. (For more information about traditional Pontian musical instruments, see my article "Musical Traditions of Pontus, the Black Sea Region of Present-Day Turkey".)

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Panayiota (the translator) being held by her Godmother Zeta Dedes (Ζέτα Δεδες). Godmothers are a special part of Greek Orthodox family life after her baptism in Greece at Ayios Konstantinos Greek Orthodox church.

Some dance variations include Tik Mono (Τίκ Μονό), Tik Diplon (Τίκ Διπλόν), and Tik Tromahton (Τίκ Τρομαχτόν). The name of the variation may also be based on the region, such as Tik Toyias (Τίκ Τόγιας) or Tik Matsoukas (Τίκ Ματσούκας) from the region of Maçka, known in Pontian as Matsouka. Although the steps consistent for a given region, each dancer has their own style and way of carrying themselves. It is rare to see every person dancing Tik exactly the same way. Each body type and structure is different. Some people bend the knees more, some less. When we are just dancing socially at our parties and gatherings, we all have our own personal styles. This admittedly wouldn't be appropriate for stage company presentation.

It would not be appropriate to incorporate this song into a belly dance performance. However, Pontian audience members would respond favorably to including this song at the end of a belly dancer's playlist, to begin playing after the dancer has left the stage, for audience members to get up and dance Tik to it. This could be especially appropriate near Mother's Day.

ABOUT THE PHOTO: Panayiota (the translator) poses with her husband Amer Mohieddin and his mother Khanum Alsamra.

Translator's Note

Although I am of Pontian Anatolian Greek heritage and grew up with the culture, arts and language, sadly I am not 100% fluent in the ancient Pontian language. I do, however, understand a lot, and I know our songs because I grew up with them. I like to ensure my translations are precise, so I collaborated with my Pontian Mother Evangelia Symeonidou-Bakis (Ευαγγελία Συμεωνίδου-Μπακη) to cross check, allowing me to provide you with the best accuracy!

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This photo shows one of the sets of Panayiota's (the translator's) great grandparents who were born and raised in Turkey. It was taken in the Pontian refugee district of Sfina (Σφήνα), which lies about 20-30 minutes outside of Agrinio, Greece. It is considered one of the many Pontian villages of Etοloakarnania (Αιτωλοακαρνανίας). Today it is known as Kipseli (Κυψέλη) and is famous for strawberry farming and production. These businesses are heavily owned by Panayiota's relatives. The great-grandmother's name was Zoi Nazli Asvestopoulos (Ζωή Ναζλι Ασβεσοπουλος).

ABOUT THE PHOTO: This photo shows another set of Panayiota's (the translator's) great grandparents, who were also born and raised in present-day Turkey. The great-grandmother's name was Kyriaki Parharidou (Κυριακή Παρχαριδου).

About Petros Gaitanos

Petros Gaitanos is a Greek singer who was born in Drama, Greece in 1967. He holds a degree in Byzantine music from the Greek Conservatory of Athens. In the early years of his career, he toured with legendary Greek singers such as Haris Alexiou, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Marinella and others.

Beginning in 1998, Gaitanos has begun releasing albums of traditional folk music from Asia Minor, Constantinople, the Aegean, and Pontus. The first of these, released in March 1998, was Agera, Eros and Armyra, and it went platinum. A song on this album "Mana En Krion Neron", became a major hit. He continued the folkloric theme with his second album which featured Macedonian music, and a third album featuring Pontian music.

Gaitanos' music recordings are now used by dance clubs, schools, cultural clubs, and social celebrations in Greece and abroad for teaching traditional dances and music to children and adults.

About Giannis Tsanakalis

Giannis Tsanakalis is the stage name for singer-songwriter Giannis Vlastaridis. He was born in 1931 in Kalamaria, Thessaloniki, and died in 2001. He was known for creating neo-Pontian music (modern compositions based on Pontian musical style, instruments, and rhythms). Many of these songs were of a satirical nature.

However, he also created some serious songs which have acquired the status of classics. The best known of these songs is "Mana En Krion Neron".

Song: Mana En Krion Neron (Mother Is Like Cold Water), 1998

Lyrics: Giannis Tsanakalis

Music: Giannis Tsanakalis

Artists Who Recorded the Version Used for This Translation: Petros Gaitanos

Has Also Been Recorded By:

• Giannis Tsanakalis, 1975, album Ta Pontiaka Tou Tsanakali
• Stathis Nikolaidis, 2000
• Stelios Kazantzidis
• Vasilis Karas

Dance Style: Tik

Album: Ageras, Erotas & Armira, 1998

Τραγούδι: Η Μάνα Εν Κρύο Νερό, 1998

Στίχοι: Γιάννης Βλασταρίδης (Τσανάκαλης)

Μουσική: Γιάννης Βλασταρίδης (Τσανάκαλης)  

Ερμηνευτές: Πέτρος Γαιτάνος
Χορός: Τικ

Άλμπουμ: Αγέρας, Έρωτας & Αρμύρα, 1998