Basque ethnography at a glance

Clapping game. Akaitze Kamiruaga. Labayru Fundazioa Photographic Archive.

Any action, reflection or remark is bound by the modern culture of political correctness. This leads publicly exposed people to measure their statements. Whoever dares to stray from this narrow path of acceptability might face harsh criticism, often blown out of proportion in the social media. During my childhood, however, when such restrictions did not exist, I would listen to my grandmother sing some old rhymes, either very gently to help us go to sleep or as mere entertainment until my parents came back from work. Here follow some.

A clapping game played by the adult and the child used to accompany the first rhyme:

(Antón Carabina / Killed his neighbour / Put her in a sack / Took her to be ground / The miller said / This is not flour / This is the neighbour / Of Antón Carabina. / Antón Carabina / Killed his wife / Put her in a sack / Took her to be ground / The miller said / This is not flour / This is the wife / Of Antón Carabina.)

The following lullaby was sung in a soft voice:

(Antón, Antón, / Do not go to the sun / Because in the avenue / They say there is a huge man / In a nightgown / Who steals children.)

The third rhyme was used to prompt laughter and would be repeated several times:

(I have a stuttering boyfriend / Who stutters when he speaks / To tell me he loves me / It takes him two and a half hours / I love you so much / You are my sweetheart.)

Clara Zubiaur – Educational psychologist

Translated by Jaione Bilbao – Language Department – Labayru Fundazioa

Reference for further information: Children’s Games, part of the Ethnographic Atlas of the Basque Country collection.