Page 29 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

A POR TR AIT OF NOR THERN SP AIN  27

Basque Culture Traditional Basque
instruments include Basque Language
the txalaparta, a The Basque language,
percussion instrument Euskera, is believed by
made up of two some linguists to be the only
hollowed logs, that was surviving pre­Indo­European
used historically as a language in Europe.
means of communi­ Unrelated to any other
cation across moun tain tongue, it is excep tion ally
valleys. The four­hole difficult to learn, requiring
flute known as the txistu years of prac tice to become
is played with one hand. fluent. It has 11 grammatical
cases and a highly compli­
cated conjugation. Articles,
adjectives, prepositions
and other parts of speech
are added to the ends of
words, while surnames
often refer to features in the
landscape of the countryside.

Dances at fiestas are masterful
displays of agility and rhythm,
such as the various espatadantza
or sword dances or the aurresku –
a courtship dance performed In the Basque Country,
by men. At fiestas you may also road signs, street names,
hear the irrintzi, a high­pitched and information boards
shriek traditionally used to com­ are in Euskera and Spanish.
municate across long distances. Euskera is also spoken in
northern Navarra, which is
counted as part of the wider
Gernikako Arbola – the sacred Basque Country.
oak tree of the Basque people.

A coat of arms with an image
of the oak tree

Parades, such as this one in
Hondarribia, are a key element of
every fiesta. Musicians dressed in
colourful costumes march through
the town playing flutes and drums.

The stained glass is framed Basque farmers
by images of the most in traditional
famous buildings in the berets
Basque Country.

Pelota is the world’s fastest game. The ball,
which can reach speeds of 300 km/h
(186 mph), is hurled against a wall by hand, or
with a bat or a special curved wicker basket.

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