Basque
Festivals
Santa Ageda
Santa Ageda’s day is every year
on 5th February. People sing a
traditional song around the town on
Santa Ageda’s eve. They wear
farmer’s clothes and they use a
hazelnut stick to complete the
costume and mark the rhythm to
the song.
This festival is celebrated because of a legend: Santa Ageda, was a really
beautiful girl. Quintianus tried to be his boyfriend, but she rejected him.
Santa Agueda was engaged to another man: Jesus Christ. Then,
Quintianus tortured her and cut her bossom. San Pedro miraculously cured
her, but then Quintianus burnt her. The church of Holy Águeda in Rome
has an impressive painting of his death in the major altar.
Kaldereroak
This festival represents the
start of “Inauteriak” [Carnival],
People wear colourful gipsy
costumes and do a parade
around the town playing frying
pans with a hammer.
Apart from the costume,
people wear a lot of false
rings, chains and necklaces.
The festival is very funny and
everyone can participate in it.
Inauteriak
Every year, 40 days before Easter, we
celebrate this festival which is called
“Semana Blanca” [White week]. It lasts one
week and everybody wears different
costumes.
It is a very enjoyable week, but it
isn’t celebrated in Ordizia, so we
only go a few days to celebrate it to a
town which is near us, Tolosa.
Erdi Aroko azoka
Ordizia started celebrating this
market 16 years ago. It starts with a
parade at 11 a.m. Later the visitors
will be able to enjoy the work of the
craftsmen and buy their products.
In the evening, at 17.00, the parade
starts again and people who come
from other towns visit the market.
It is necessary to emphasize that
Ordizia's medieval fair is one of the
major traditions and diverse local
groups take part in it.
San Juan Sua
Every year, on 23rd June is celebrated the
San Juan Sua. A lot of towns light a big fire
at the main square and dance and sing
around it.
They also make a play based
in Basque mythology.
Ordiziako festak
Ordiziako festak start on 16th July.
They last about 2 weeks and a lot
people come because there are lots
of different activities.
Some children playing drums on
a parade.
The first day of Ordiziako festak starts
at twelve o’clock in the morning, when
the Mayor throws some powerful
fireworks and everybody starts
dancing.
Euskal jaiak
Every year a special market is celebrated in our town
at the beginning of September. Loads of people come
to see it and buy some local products.
Farmers do not only bring vegetables
and fruit. They also bring animals like
cows, sheep and hens.
The most important event on that day
is the cheese auction. Many famous
chefs try different cheese and decide
which one is the best. Later, the best
cheese is auctioned. Some years ago,
the best cheese was auctioned for
12,000 Euros.
Ardiki eguna
It is always celebrated the last Sunday
of October. People bring products
from the farm, and the most typical one
is a product called "mondeju“. They
always organise a cheese and
“mondeju” competition.
Apart from all that, you can find
different animals there, like
sheep .
Some people play some
instruments: “txistu”, “alboka” and
“dultzaina”. They are typical from
here.
Ardiki eguna
It is always celebrated the last Sunday
of October. People bring products
from the farm, and the most typical one
is a product called "mondeju“. They
always organise a cheese and
“mondeju” competition.
Apart from all that, you can find
different animals there, like
sheep .
Some people play some
instruments: “txistu”, “alboka” and
“dultzaina”. They are typical from
here.

02 Basque culture and heritage - Festivals

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Santa Ageda Santa Ageda’sday is every year on 5th February. People sing a traditional song around the town on Santa Ageda’s eve. They wear farmer’s clothes and they use a hazelnut stick to complete the costume and mark the rhythm to the song. This festival is celebrated because of a legend: Santa Ageda, was a really beautiful girl. Quintianus tried to be his boyfriend, but she rejected him. Santa Agueda was engaged to another man: Jesus Christ. Then, Quintianus tortured her and cut her bossom. San Pedro miraculously cured her, but then Quintianus burnt her. The church of Holy Águeda in Rome has an impressive painting of his death in the major altar.
  • 3.
    Kaldereroak This festival representsthe start of “Inauteriak” [Carnival], People wear colourful gipsy costumes and do a parade around the town playing frying pans with a hammer. Apart from the costume, people wear a lot of false rings, chains and necklaces. The festival is very funny and everyone can participate in it.
  • 4.
    Inauteriak Every year, 40days before Easter, we celebrate this festival which is called “Semana Blanca” [White week]. It lasts one week and everybody wears different costumes. It is a very enjoyable week, but it isn’t celebrated in Ordizia, so we only go a few days to celebrate it to a town which is near us, Tolosa.
  • 5.
    Erdi Aroko azoka Ordiziastarted celebrating this market 16 years ago. It starts with a parade at 11 a.m. Later the visitors will be able to enjoy the work of the craftsmen and buy their products. In the evening, at 17.00, the parade starts again and people who come from other towns visit the market. It is necessary to emphasize that Ordizia's medieval fair is one of the major traditions and diverse local groups take part in it.
  • 6.
    San Juan Sua Everyyear, on 23rd June is celebrated the San Juan Sua. A lot of towns light a big fire at the main square and dance and sing around it. They also make a play based in Basque mythology.
  • 7.
    Ordiziako festak Ordiziako festakstart on 16th July. They last about 2 weeks and a lot people come because there are lots of different activities. Some children playing drums on a parade. The first day of Ordiziako festak starts at twelve o’clock in the morning, when the Mayor throws some powerful fireworks and everybody starts dancing.
  • 8.
    Euskal jaiak Every yeara special market is celebrated in our town at the beginning of September. Loads of people come to see it and buy some local products. Farmers do not only bring vegetables and fruit. They also bring animals like cows, sheep and hens. The most important event on that day is the cheese auction. Many famous chefs try different cheese and decide which one is the best. Later, the best cheese is auctioned. Some years ago, the best cheese was auctioned for 12,000 Euros.
  • 9.
    Ardiki eguna It isalways celebrated the last Sunday of October. People bring products from the farm, and the most typical one is a product called "mondeju“. They always organise a cheese and “mondeju” competition. Apart from all that, you can find different animals there, like sheep . Some people play some instruments: “txistu”, “alboka” and “dultzaina”. They are typical from here.
  • 10.
    Ardiki eguna It isalways celebrated the last Sunday of October. People bring products from the farm, and the most typical one is a product called "mondeju“. They always organise a cheese and “mondeju” competition. Apart from all that, you can find different animals there, like sheep . Some people play some instruments: “txistu”, “alboka” and “dultzaina”. They are typical from here.