Life

On the evening of 4th February, many towns in Biscay and the rest of the Basque Country remember St Agueda -Agate in Basque, Agatha in English -, the Italian saint who was martyred on 5th February 251 AD, by Governor Quinciano because she refused to give up her virginity.

On the eve of St Agatha's, hundreds of choirs in several Basque villages and cities, dress up in typical costumes and parade through the streets, singing traditional verses composed in honour of the St Agatha. Agatha is then declared patron saint of the Basque Country with the following words: 'Santa Ageda bezpera dogu Euskal Herriko eguna, etxe guztiak kantuz pozteko aukeratua doguna'. ('Today, St Agatha's Eve, Day of the Basque Country, is the day we have chosen to liven up all homes with our singing').

In return for their singing, the choirs receive tips though this tradition developed only recently. Previously the choristers would just receive something to eat or drink.

The verses of the songs are adapted to the place where the choirs stop to sing. The choristers accompany their own singing by rhythmically knocking on the ground with sticks.

The verses, with small language variations, always begin with the following words: 'Zorion etxe hontako denoi, oles egitera gatoz / aterik ate ohitura zaharra aurten barritzeko asmoz. /Ez gagoz sano aberats diruz, ez eta oinetakoz, / baia sameaz ondo gabiz ta kanta gure dogu gogoz'. Which roughly translates as: 'Wishing happiness to all who live in this house/ we come to greet you/ renewing the old custom of going from door to door./ We are short of money and shoes/ but we have a voice/ so we want to sing out loud'.

According to the historian, Jose Maria Uranga, the tradition has its origin in Biscay, though it also had some roots in the bordering towns of Gipuzkoa.