Basque Country tourist information - Life and traditions
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Basque Country Information: Fiestas and Traditions - A COUNTRY WITH ITS OWN PERSONALITY |
| TWO PIECES OF WOOD You'll be pleasantly surprised at any fiesta to discover the locally exclusive musical instruments. The txalaparta is an ancient form of percussion: two planks of wood, two people and two sticks yet again of wood produce a never-ending variety of rhythms and sounds. The trikitixa or diatonic accordion, accompanied by a tambourine player, produces a sound of contagious gaiety. The alboka is an ancient wind instrument. More common is however the high-pitched txistu whistle, which is played with three fingers of the left hand, leaving the right hand free to play the drum. 
LEGS UP! Basque folklore involves all sorts of popular dances. The dantzaris perform in either all male groups (sometimes including the spectacular ezpata-danza or sword dance) or in groups of men and women. One of the most spectacular solitary dances is the aurresku, where the dancer solemnly kicks a leg up to head height. This dance is performed as a mark of respect or by way of a welcome at different events. IMPROVISED VERSE Ever since ancient times, bertsolaris have been practising an extremely strange kind of oral literature in the Basque language. Responding to a subject given to them at the moment of standing up to sing, or dialectically confronted with another improviser, these bertsolaris have to invent verses before the audience in keeping with strict rules of rhythm and metrics. Imagination, depth, social criticism and the odd bit of mischief are concealed in the words of these sharp-witted poets. 
SPORTS FOR THE STRONGEST One of the sports only carried out by the harrijasotzailes or stone-I ifters is that of lifting a stone weighing over 300 kilos up to shoulder height. The lifting of cylindrical, rectangular, cubic and round stones is one of the most impressive rural sports. Other modalities with a strong traditional flavour are the cutting of trunks with an axe by aizkolaris, the cutting of grass with a scythe by segolaris, or the pulling of stones by oxen, known as idi probak. 
BY HAND Basque pelota is by far the most popular local sport. It is played in a large part of the peninsula and in the South of France, as well as having been taken across the ocean to America. Pelota courts, to be found in even the smallest Basque hamlet, watch over the players of the different modalities as they evolve from playing with the hand to the spectacular cestapunta, via the version where the ball is hit with a wooden bat. The coming and going of bets between spectators is an essential part of the proceedings. THE BEATING OF OARS Thirteen oarsmen and a captain form the crew of the fixed-rhwart rowing boats thar participate in the competitions which each summer awaken fiery passion in the supporters of the differenr colours. This competition originated in the struggle the coastal fishermen used to make in the attempt to reach harbour firsr and sell their wares before the others. The fixed-thwart rowing competitions now require a great deal of physical training and end in a spectacular final battle for the Bandera de la Concha flag. People flock to the bay of the same name, where they follow each stroke of the oar with an eagle eye. |
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