Basque ethnography at a glance

La Blanca Festival 1997. Groups ‘blusas’ and ‘neskas’ dress on the steps of Plaza del Matxete. Author: Luis Montoya Pérez.

We are in the season of summer festivals in towns and cities, and the participation of youth groups is essential to organising and celebrating them. Rather than mere spectators, groups of young people have become the driving force behind organising initiatives and ensuring their continuity. Their involvement in a festive and joyful atmosphere strengthens the social fabric and fosters a sense of belonging to the community.

This trend for young people to organise themselves is not new. In many parts of the Basque Country, youth groups have been set up to organise local festivals. For example, in Álava and Navarre, the ‘mocería’ has been alive and well for years, and in Bizkaia we had ‘zahagi-mutilak’ until a few decades ago. These groups are always defined by a personality, objective and hierarchy, with each participant having their own role. Currently, although the objective is the same, there are different models of grouping.

In Iruña, they have the ‘peña’ format and are fundamental to the San Fermín festivities. Each peña has its own private premises in the old town, most of them on Calle Jarauta. They organise activities for eating, drinking, dancing and enjoying the bulls. The peñas actively participate in the bull runs, creating and encouraging a festive atmosphere in the square.

During the Virgen Blanca festivities in Vitoria-Gasteiz, groups of friends are known as ‘blusas’. Apparently, the tradition began in 1926, when a group of friends, dressed in blouses, danced to the rhythm of a band on their way to the bullring, spreading their joy. They are the soul of the festivities, promoting parades, meals and vitality in the streets. For example, each blusa goes with a brass band throughout the day. In addition, they choose who will be Celedón and accompany this beloved character throughout his journey.

In Donostia, the ‘Piratak’ (Pirates) movement was born in 2003 to promote a more participatory, self-managed and socially conscious model of festivities. The organised groups have been given the name of cofradías (brotherhoods) and are organised into working units to carry out the initiatives. They organise a programme parallel to the ‘Aste Nagusia’ (Great Week): meals, concerts, workshops and games, all through teamwork. Their most famous event is the ‘pirate boarding’, when on the Monday afternoon of the Aste Nagusia they all go out to the sea together with rafts they have built themselves to take over the bay and create a festive atmosphere.

In Bilbao, the ‘konpartsak’ (troupes) are groups that have been participating in the Aste Nagusia festivities since 1978. They were created as a way to organise popular festivals and encourage citizen participation. Each konpartsa organises its own events, such as meals, dances and parades. In general, they form a network that enriches the festivities with music, costumes and cultural activities. They have an internal organisation but coordinate with the city council to keep this community tradition alive.

In short, all these traditions show that, today, there are several communities and groups of young people who organise themselves to celebrate the festivities, keeping traditions alive, encouraging citizen participation and creating festive atmospheres full of music, colour and community. Each with its own style and character, they celebrate the cultural and social richness of their towns.

Nerea Etxebarria – Labayru Fundazioa