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The Tribute of the three cows |
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 One
of the oldest treaties of common
pastureland in Europe. Since the
Middle ages, a mediaeval peace
agreement has dictated that the
inhabitants of the neighbouring
Béarn valley of Baretous
have to offer the inhabitants
of Roncal three cows of equal
age, hide and teeth. The Tribute
takes place each year at the Stone
of San Martín, the boundary
between the two valleys.
It has been celebrated without
interruption every thirteenth
of July for more than six hundred
years. Its origins lie in violent
conflicts for the right to pastures
and springs between the inhabitants
of the two faces of the Pyrenean
slopes, brought to an end with
a peace treaty still commemorated
today.
Before the tribute is offered,
the Mayors of Roncal and the Valley
of Baretous place their hands
one on top of another and repeat
the ritual words “pax avant”
(peace from now on) three times.
The vows of peace between the
two valleys are thereby renewed
year after year. Nowadays, the
ceremony is a popular event and
is held in a festival-like atmosphere.
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| For more information: Tel.
948 893251 |
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The
Day of Aezkoa: |
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 A
popular celebration, both a festival
and, to some extent, a protest,
which brings hundreds of Aezkoans
together on the third Sunday in
September each year. Organised
by Asociación Cultural
Aezkoa, it is held in a different
village each year and includes
music, exhibitions, a public lunch,
rural sport, etc. |
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Día
de la Almadía |
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 This
festive event, held each year
at the beginning of May, consists
of several timber rafts descending
5 km of the River Esca before
finishing at the mediaeval bridge
in Burgui beyond the dam.
The descent of the rafts is complemented
with a set of cultural, sporting
and folk acts such as exhibitions,
concerts, dances, craft fairs,
public lunches, films, plays,
rural sport, etc. |
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Marca
de Sorogain |
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 The
agreements by which livestock
from the two sides of the border
graze on the same land date from
the Middle ages in some Pyrenean
valleys. The livestock from the
Valley of Erro and the neighbouring
Valley of Baigorri is identified
at Sorogain at an event known
as the “marca”. The
event is now celebrated in a festive
atmosphere and is attended by
a great many local inhabitants
and tourists. The pact, celebrated
with a lunch shared by the representatives
of the two valleys, is also accompanied
by music, exhibitions, crafts,
games and sheepdog trials, and
is open to the public.
Two “marcas” are held
each year:
- 2nd Saturday of May:
“marca” for cattle
and horses. “Marca”
for cattle from the Valley of
Baigorri to graze in Sorogain,
which belongs to the Valley of
Erro, in the spring.
- 3rd Saturday of September:
“marca” for livestock
to graze in Sorogain in autumn.
“Marca” for sheep
from the Valleys of Baigorri and
Erro and mares from the latter.
Tel. 948 768011. and another in
September (“marca”
for sheep).
Two other “marcas”
are held in Urepel (Baigorri)
at around the same time. |
| For more information: Tel.
948 768011 |
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Bost-Kirol |
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 The
Bost-kirol championship has been
held annually in Mezkiritz since
1981. This Basque handball (“pelota”)
competition involves the following
versions of the game: short bat,
leather bat, share, rubber bat
and hand. The championship is
organised at weekends from the
end of August to the beginning
of September.
Nowadays, two teams compete for
the prize. The teams comprise
one player per modality, unlike
before when the same player played
all five. |
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San Juan in Auritz-Burguete |
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 The
night of San Juan (Midsummer’s
night) is a special celebration
which dates from pre-Christian
days. It is a pagan festival,
charged with symbolism and associated
with life cycles. A ritual celebrated
around bonfires in which the four
elements play a central role.
The bonfires of Auritz-Burguete
are perhaps the best example found
in the area of the Consortium.
In Auritz-Burguete, the festival
is accompanied by the dance of
the trébole and the traditional
sharing-out of bread and cheese. |
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Orhipean |
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 Festival
of trades and traditions in Otsagabia.
In addition to traditional music
and excellent concerts (Kepa Junkera,
Luar na Lubre, etc), exhibitions,
crafts, sport, etc, a theme related
to the customs and traditions
of the valleys located at the
foot of Mount Orhi is chosen each
year. Held the weekend before
the 8th of September. |
| For more information: Tel. 948
890641 |
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Fiestas
of Lumbier |
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 “Fiestas”
with a long, popular tradition
which begin on the 30th of August,
the eve of the Day of San Ramón.
The programme is always very
complete: pipe-players, music,
giants, running of wild cows
along Calle Mayor, Basque handball
(“pelota”), clay-pigeon
shooting, stew competitions,
Navarrese wine and cheese tasting,
the bull of fire, exhibitions
of local artists, concerts,
etc.
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