Basque ethnography at a glance

Horn mountains. Source: Felix Mugurutza.

Last June 8, we saw several people gather in certain mountains to claim their identity. Not to any mountain though, but to the peaks of Kolitxa, Ganekogorta, Gorbeia, Oiz and Sollube, in Bizkaia, that have become well-chosen symbols.

In Spanish, these mountains have always been called montes bocineros (horn mountains), and turututzaileak or deiadar mendiak (more linguistically accurate) in Basque.

Montes bocineros, yes… They are called that because, according to a very widespread popular belief, from there, horns were played and fires were lit when the Assembly of Gernika was called.

But in practice, we know that it is impossible to light a fire in Gorbeiagan most days. In addition, if we did, the smoke would almost certainly disperse between the clouds, ruining the mission. On the other hand, as a test, try to play a trumpet: you won’t be heard 200 meters away in such a vast and windy landscape. It makes no sense. Why?

Because all this is an invention, although we can still find things like this in countless places and in Wikipedia itself.

When the Fueros were revoked, a general depression occurred in Basque society—not only in Bizkaia—: a void of feelings, because the ideals for those who fought and the territory were lost. We were wandering people, with exhausted hope.

Horn mountains. Source: Felix Mugurutza.

For this reason, between the 19th and 20th centuries, a romantic current emerged between writers, painters, musicians, historians, etc., in which the past was praised, imagined, disguised and idealized more than ever. Because it was invented ad hoc. Everything was glorious and epic when we talked about our past. That was the salvation we needed and we sought it with great force, realizing that it was only history.

One of these romantic writers was a writer from Galdames, Antonio Trueba (1819-1889), a renowned chronicler of Bizkaia at that time. To him we owe the modern myth of the horn mountains, since he was the first to mention it. Until then, they did not exist, but since then it has spread throughout the world, because we needed it to emotionally heal our wounds.

To construct the new myth, he used as a basis an expression that was frequently mentioned in the documentation. Moreover, since five horns were cited, it was perfectly fit for referring to the five regions of Biscay.

According to the historian Alberto Santana, the expression “tañidas las cinco bocinas y consintiendo en ellos todos los los vizcaínos se dio comienzo a la Junta” (when the five horns were played, all the Biscayans agreed, and the meeting began), dated 1452, refers to the role of the five officials who were in charge of the General Assembly at that time.

So, yes to all the celebrations and demands you want. However, not to confuse them with the reality of our country.

In other words, let’s blow our horns, but don’t let them fool us!

Felix Mugurutza – Researcher