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“Cuckoo”, the call that heralds spring

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Posted on 2024-03-29 in

Cuculus cannorus (female). Author: Trebol-a.

‘Cuckoo, cuckoo’. One of the best-known sounds of nature. It is clearly the most famous bird call, as can be seen from the bird’s name in different languages: kuku in Basque, cuco in Spanish, coucou in French, cuckoo in English…

Even though spring officially begins on 20 March according to the calendar, the call of the cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) heralds the arrival of this season for the baserritarras (farmers).

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Children’s games in the open air

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Posted on 2019-07-26 in
Looking for tadpoles. Ziortza Artabe

Looking for tadpoles. Ziortza Artabe Etxebarria. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

Haurrak haurlan, goes a popular Basque saying, that is, play is the ‘work’ of childhood. And traditionally most of that play took place out in the open air.

In their playtime children interacted with animals. Ladybirds, for instance, were thought to be able to predict the weather. They would place the precious insect on the forefinger, and while it climbed up, said the following words:

Marigorri, gona gorri,
bihar eguzki ala euri? (more…)

Carrito

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