A Spanish or Portuguese funeral song or elegy; a mournful ballad traditionally sung at wakes or commemorations of the dead.
From Spanish 'endecha' (also 'endechas'), possibly from Latin 'antiphona' (antiphon, a liturgical chant) or Arabic influences. The word appears in Spanish literature dating back to medieval times.
Endechas were so important to Spanish and Portuguese culture that multiple kings of Spain had court poets who specialized in writing them—entire genres of music developed around these funeral laments.
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