Faces People, Places, and World Culture for Kids and Children July/August 2016

Travelers visit Basque country for its spectacular coastal and mountain scenery, but often fall in love with its blend of traditional culture and modern innovation. From quiet villages tucked into the Pyrenees Mountains to the hustle and bustle of the largest city, Bilbao, there’s a lot to see, do, and learn in Basque country! 1. Did Basques beat the Vikings to the New World? Maybe not, but they couldn’t have been far behind. Historical and archaeological evidence shows that Basque whalers were working the waters and occupying seasonal fishing camps in northeastern Canada by the early 1500s. 2. “X” marks the spot! The unique Basque language uses this letter a lot, which is pronounced much like “ch” in English. Master the “x” and you are on your way to learning…

Official Name: The Basque country; known to the Basque as Euskal Herria, “the home of the Basque people.” Location: Basque country is located in the western Pyrenees Mountains, spanning the border between France and Spain. It is made up of four regions on the Spanish side of the Pyrenees and three on the French side. Its northern border is the Bay of Bizkay in the Atlantic Ocean. Area: 8,088 square miles (slightly smaller than New Jersey) Population: 2,189,000 (2014 estimate) Government: Basque Autonomous Community – Parliamentary The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country was meant to encompass all provinces inhabited by the Basque people in Spain, but Navarre became its own autonomous province. The statute applies now only to the provinces of Araba, Gipuzkoa, and Bizkaia where the president…

Basque whalers, like the whalers seen in this image from one of Captain Cook’s voyages, faced many dangers and difficult work. Why and how did the Basques travel from Western Europe to the banks of Newfoundland, Canada, in the early 1500s? The answer — they discovered cod. The cod is a fish native to the cold waters of the northern Atlantic Ocean and the North and Barents seas. Young cod have special enzymes in their bodies that act like a natural heating blanket and allow them to survive in sub-zero temperatures. Generally, cod prefer to live on the sea bottom, at a range of 33 to 655 feet below the surface. However, fishermen can catch them anywhere between three and 1,968 feet deep. These hardy fish can also live in…

With a beautiful coastline on the Bay of Bizkay, the rugged Pyrenees Mountains, and postcard-perfect farms and villages, it’s no wonder that tourists love Basque country. But it’s the cultural heritage of the Basques that sets this region apart from other parts of Spain and France. The culture of the Basques, including their very old language, was nearly wiped out several times through history. People starved in the cities while surrounded by enemy militaries. One famous bombing in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War destroyed the city of Guernica. Children were punished if they were overheard speaking Basque, and traditional folk festivals were banned. So how did the Basque language and culture survive, and thrive, into the 21st century? A large factor was the end of the long reign of…

Q: country What do eat kids for in lunch Basque ? A: Fish, and lots of it! Let’s back up and start our sampling of Basque food more broadly. A major clue to understanding Basque food is a map of Basque country. With three provinces stretching across the Bay of Bizkay, many types of fish and seafood are popular. Local fish include tiny anchovies and sea bream. In farmland nestled into the valleys of the Pyrenees Mountains, sheep are raised for meat, and their milk is made into delicious cheese. A variety of fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits are showcased at outdoor markets. Wild and cultivated herbs are harvested to flavor dishes. In addition to their native bounty, the Basques have learned from the many cultures passing through their lands.…

Most people who visit Basque country end up tasting some pintxos (pronounced “peench-ohs”). These tasty small bites speared on toothpicks can be a snack, an appetizer, or — if you eat enough of them — a whole meal. Try hosting a party with friends and a number of “spearable” slices or cubes of food from the list of suggested ingredients below. Arrange bowls or plates of pintxo ingredients around a table. Assemble the ingredients on your toothpicks any way you like. Hint: Many pintxos feature a small slice of baguette, a long, thin loaf of bread, to help hold everything together. Spear the piece of bread last for the effect in the photo. Be sure your toothpicks are sturdy enough to hold up to the challenge! Suggested Pintxo Ingredients: NOTE:…