Basque ethnography at a glance
Gernika-Lumo Marijesiak, 1962. Courtesy of Segundo Oar-Arteta.
The house-visiting wassail practice is a Christmas tradition that still prevails in various localities throughout Bizkaia. Groups of children, youth or adults, sing songs to celebrate the birth of our Lord as their tour the streets and neighbourhoods and, in some cases, ask for alms. Let us describe the Marijesiak celebrations in Gernika-Lumo. The term Marijesiak (a blend of the names Maria –Mary– and Jesus) refers to the old popular stanzas as well as the singers who parade. (more…)
Carving kept in the chapel of Labarrieta. Sopuerta (Bizkaia). Juan Cordón.
Saint Lucy, or Saint Lucia, was born in Syracuse (Sicily-Italy). According to ancient legend, she was tortured during the Diocletianic persecution, c. AD 303. Lucy’s mother arranged her daughter’s marriage to a young man of a wealthy pagan family. One day both women left on pilgrimage to Saint Agatha’s shrine at Catania in hopes of a cure for the sick mother. While there they listened to the gospel account of Jesus healing a bleeding woman as she touched the edge of his cloak. In an act of faith, Lucy touched the martyr’s sepulchre and foresaw her mother’s recovery as well as her own future martyrdom. Back in Syracuse she renounced matrimony and distributed her riches among the poor. Lucy’s betrothed reported her to Paschasius, the Governor of Syracuse, for being a Christian. Paschasius arrested her and took her before the Tribunal, who sentenced her to death. Prior to her passing, she foretold she would be the guardian of Syracuse. A church was built above her tomb and soon became a Christian place of pilgrimage. (more…)
The Boy Bishop blessing livestock, Muruzábal (Navarre), 1977. M.ª Amor Beguiristáin.
On 8 December 1977 the Boy Bishop of Muruzábal (Navarre) wore brand-new bishop’s gown, alb and fancy cope. The old robes were in such bad condition that schoolchildren had been unable to dress as bishops for the last two years. The full episcopal regalia included mitre and crozier. Two acolytes assisted the boy bishop: one carried the holy water vessel and sprinkler, and the other a tin money can reading “Quien dé por San Nicolás, cien años vivirá” (which translates as “Whoever makes a donation on St Nicholas’ Day will live a hundred years”) to collect alms from their neighbours. As a novelty on that year, an altar boy accompanied them carrying a bag full of mandarins, oranges and sweets to be shared out. (more…)
A traditional Carranza farmhouse. Miguel Sabino Díaz.
Rural houses in Bizkaia have traditionally been devoted to crop and livestock farming. In order to make the most of daylight and solar heat, farmhouses are oriented to the sun (eguzkira begira, in Basque), facing south, east or southeast. There are basically two farmhouse designs: lower buildings with a spacious main floor, mostly arable farmsteads, and taller livestock farms with smaller floor plans. (more…)
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