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Libertimendua in Lekorne, 2023. Photo credit: Pantxix Bidart.

The Zuberoa masquerades, the cowbells (Joaldunak) of Ituren and Zubieta, the Lantz carnival… are well-known. That is not the case of Santibate (cowbell ringing) and Libertimendua, at least not outside Iparralde (the part of the Basque Country coming under France). There are two essential aspects to this carnival in Baja Navarra: Santibate’s night – the festivity of Zirtzilak (vagabonds) – and Libertimendua Day – the festivity of the Bolantes (courtship dancers) –. Young people go from house to house or from bar to bar in Santibate and spend the night singing or improvising  bertsos (Basque improvised verse). Today’s article focuses on Libertimendua Day and we will leave Santibate for another occasion.

This festivity was reintroduced in the Garazi area by Antton Luku and was then brought to Donapaleu by Mattin Irigoien. It later spread to the Hergarai and Aldude valleys. It then crossed the border into Labourd and began to be celebrated in Makea, Lekorne, and the Luhuso area. And finally, the young people of Hazparne also began to celebrate it three or four years ago.

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