Stretching from Biarritz in the South West corner of France, to Cortes in the Spanish province of Navarre and westward to Bilbao, the Basque country comprises seven provinces, three of which are in France, four in Spain. The Basques are a unique people who have always fought for their concept of a nation without ever having had a country of their own. They have a strong sense of identity united around their own culture and traditions and above all around their language, EUSKERA.
Their origins are unknown and even their language bears no relation to any other Indo-European language. Folklore and traditions play a primordial role in Basque culture and the red, green and white Basque flag, the IKURRINA, is a proud symbol of Basque unity.
To celebrate their common identity, the Basque provinces organize huge popular ‘fêtes’ incorporating their music, songs, dancing, games and sports and showing off local produce. Steeped in ancient myths and rituals, these "fêtes" provide a platform for Basque culture. Even today revellers wear the Basque colours and dance the intricate steps of the traditional Basque dances. Their songs, usually epic poems set to music are regularly sung at local celebrations and weddings. Pelota, the local sport which can be played in several forms, is reminiscent of the ancient "jeu de paume".
Even closer to the hearts of many Basques stands the art of bullfighting which still holds a mythical place in Basque culture and is a reminder that sacrifices would once have been made to the ancient Bull God.
This ancient reverence for the bull is not only to be found in the established arenas, but equally in the local tradition whereby ‘vachettes’ or young wild cows are set to run freely through the streets of San Sebastien and Bilbao and in Pampelune the tradition is repeated using bulls, challenging the young men to test their courage.
Famous also for it gastronomy, the Basque region offers a huge array of local specialities, including gateaux Basque, cheeses and cider. With an acknowledged genius for cooking, the Basques have always pioneered the use of products from other parts of the world, adapting them to their own unique recipes.
Despite being anchored to a rural economy, the Basques have always been adventurers excelling in whale fishing from the 7th century onwards and later dominating the cod fishing industry as well as that of tuna and sardines. They are a proud and entrepreneurial people who pride themselves on their sense of liberty and industriousness who have strong Celtic connections through their maritime connections.
Unlike many areas where local customs and traditions are losing ground to a European homogenisation of culture, the Basque remain to this day a mysterious and unique people, preserving as they always have, their language and local traditions in a way rarely found elsewhere.