Basque carnivals, a colorful tradition in February

Dance, music, entertainment, and above all, conviviality —these are the words that perfectly define this custom in the south of France. Winter gently ends, giving way to spring, an important time for the Basques who joyfully celebrate the renewal of life in the Pyrenees. Put on your mask and costume to enjoy the Basque carnivals during the month of February.

Basque carnivals, a celebration not to be missed in the southwest of France

Every year in February, you can participate in the Basque carnivals and admire the magnificent, colorful parades. Called Ihauteriak in Basque, or masquerade, this form of popular theater is a true spectacle. Listen to the music rising in the streets of towns and villages, and let yourself be carried away by the festive atmosphere brought by all generations of Basques. The end of January heralds the arrival of spring, a time celebrated with customs and traditions such as the traditional awakening of the bear, or the condemnation of San Pantzar.

Basque carnivals, an unmissable tradition in the Basque Country

Depending on the city, the carnival can last several weeks, with a variety of parades and workshops depending on the festivities organized. However, some customs are essential, such as:

• The awakening of the bear evokes the arrival of spring with the awakening of nature and the Pyrenees. It also heralds the start of the carnival, as it descends the mountains.
• The trial and condemnation of San Pantzar, the scapegoat accused of all evils and burned at the end of carnival in the public square.
• The festive meal that follows the bonfire, a convivial moment as only the Basques know how to do.

Don't miss these must-sees of the Basque Country carnivals and let yourself be swept away in a parade of colorful entertainment.

Basque carnivals: two periods of celebration during the festivities

Some villages preserve traditions at the very heart of the carnival. The inhabitants are the true actors in this street spectacle, through:

• Santibate, where young people take on the appearance of the Zirtzil, exuberant and grimacing characters. Dressed in costumes and sometimes disheveled, they parade through the houses with a colorful mask, or made up, to eat and drink.
• Libertimendua, celebrated in Saint-Palais and Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, is a rather comical spectacle composed of actors, musicians, and dancers. On a Sunday morning, they entertain the public with pamphlets inspired by village life, bolantak dances, and Zirtzil's antics.
• The Kaskarot's rounds of the houses are organized the day before the carnival. Dressed from head to toe, the young inhabitants collect donations while dancing in the streets of the village, without missing a single neighborhood.

The Basque carnivals organized in Saint-Jean-de-Luz and Bayonne

These two important Basque cities bring the Basque Carnival to life each year, each with its own unique character. In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, it always begins on the first Saturday of the month, starting with Bear Day. Between dances, parades, and workshops, the week is filled with activities, culminating the following Saturday with the trial of Pantzar and the communal dinner. In Bayonne, the festivities kick off during the school holidays. The unmissable awakening of the bear and the burning of Pantzar are key elements of the Carnival, as is the procession of the Joaldunak. Wearing shivering pointed hats, sheepskins, and large bells around their waists, they announce the arrival of Carnival.

Basque carnivals, or Gizakunde in Spanish

Basque carnivals originate across the border with the Spanish, who celebrate the end of winter. There, too, traditional dances and bear-related activities are central to the event. Whether in Ituren or Zubieta, only the names change: Pantzar becomes Jantzilo and the bear becomes Hartza. A few characters also appear in Spain, including:

• Dama, a man dressed as a woman,
• Tunturru, the man with the drum,
• Botellero, the man and his basket of apples.

Don't miss the Basque carnivals in February ! You'll be delighted to participate in these lively days filled with good cheer and conviviality. Of course, other towns such as Biarritz, Hendaye, Bidart, and Anglet also participate.

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