Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Faces People, Places, and World Culture for Kids and Children

People visit the Basque region for its spectacular coast and mountain scenery, but they often fall in love with its blend of traditional culture and modern innovation. From quiet villages tucked into the Pyrenees mountain range to the hustle and bustle of Bilbao, the region’s largest city, there’s a lot to see, do, and learn in Basque country! 1 The Vikings were the first Europeans to reach the Americas, but the Basques may have been close behind them. Historical and archaeological evidence shows that Basque whalers were fishing and occupying seasonal camps in northeastern Canada by the early 1500s. 2 “X” marks the spot! Euskara, the language unique to the Basque region, uses the letter “X” a lot. It is pronounced similar to “ch” in English. Master the “X,” and…

There’s the beautiful Bay of Biscay coastline, the dramatic Pyrenees mountain range, and postcard-perfect farms and villages. But what really sets Basque country apart from other parts of Spain and France is the cultural heritage of the Basque people. The culture of the Basque people, including their historic and unique language, was nearly wiped out several times through history. For centuries, the Basque people had independently ruled themselves. But over time, the self-governing charters observed by the Basque people weakened. A revolution in France in the late 1700s and a series of civil wars in Spain in the 1800s resulted in a rise of nationalism and efforts to end regional Basque control. Basque people starved in the region’s cities while surrounded by enemy armies. Life was particularly difficult during Spanish…

How do you get from Basque country to London, England, using only the Basque language as a guide? This was one of the challenges presented to fourth-grade students at Begoñazpi Ikastola in Bilbao. It was a typical day in the social studies class at the school of practicing Euskara, the Basque language of their ancestors. An Old Language Many people consider Euskara the oldest language in Europe. There have been speculations about the language’s origins, but none of the theories ever have been confirmed. It isn’t related to Spanish or French. Evidence shows that the people who speak Euskara have always lived in the Basque region. This makes the Basque people one of the few possibly Indigenous, or native, groups in Europe. Euskara once was considered by nonnative speakers to…

Giants are regular visitors at cultural festivals in Basque country. Towering above small children perched on their parents’ shoulders, these friendly giants parade down the street to lively music. Occasionally, they stop to pair off in a stately dance. Their arrival delights crowds of locals and tourists alike! Larger-Than-Life Characters Festivals play a big part in the Basque tradition. Seasonal festivals occur year-round in Basque country and in Basque communities around the world. Many of these events feature larger-than-life, costumed figures known as Erraldoi eta Buruhandiak, which means “Giants and Big Heads.” The Giants are large, hollow figures with papier-mâché heads and arms. Their elaborately costumed bodies measure up to 13 feet (4 meters) high. An actor carries the huge framed-and-costumed Giant on their shoulders and uses eyeholes in the…

OFFICIAL NAME: The Basque Country. The Basque name is Euskal Herria, which loosely translates to “home of the Basque people.” The Spanish name is Pais Vasco and the French name is Pays Basque. LOCATION: The Basque Country is located in the western Pyrenees mountain range on the border between France and Spain. There are three regions on the French side and four regions on the Spanish side. Its northwestern border is the Bay of Biscay in the Atlantic Ocean. CAPITAL: Vitoria-Gasteiz holds the Basque Parliament, the headquarters of the Basque government, and the Basque Autonomous Community president’s residence. LARGEST CITY: Bilbo/Bilbao AREA: 8,088 square miles (20,947 square kilometers) POPULATION: 2,200,000 (2023 estimate) GOVERNMENT: Basque Autonomous Community, Parliamentary. The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country was meant to encompass the…

The stadium is packed with more than 10,000 excited spectators. The atmosphere crackles with anticipation. The applause is deafening. Which superstar rock group is about to take the stage? None. The eight men and women who climb onto the stage are Basque language improvisational poets called bertsolariak (bertsolari is the singular form of the word). They are there to perform a bertso (sung composition). The art of creating a bertso is called bertsolaritza. The poets are there to compete in a popular Basque event. In Basque, it is formally known as the Bertsolari Txapelketa Nagusia (Great Bertsolari Championship). It is the modern-day interpretation of an improvisational singing tradition that dates to the 1400s. The competition takes place every four years. The championship event is the culmination of hundreds of local…

In the days before telephones, cell phones, email and social media, Basque farmers developed their own unique way of spreading news and communicating. When a fresh batch of apple cider was ready, they banged on their wooden cider presses to let neighbors know to come celebrate! Once all the apples had been juiced, farmers in Basque country brought their large wooden apple presses onto the rooftops to dry. If neighbors could see a farmer’s press drying in the sun, that was an invitation to come drink and celebrate. To alert friends farther away, the farmer beat on the wooden planks of the press with large sticks. This sonic summons was so loud, people from many miles away would hear it and come to join in the festivities. The Basque people…

Off to the Races! Every year between July and October, oars fly as groups of strong rowers race along the Bay of Biscay in Basque country. The Basque estropadak (boat races) developed from the days when fishermen would rush back to shore in a trainera (slender rowing boat) to be the first to sell their catch. Today, the people who compete in the sport are trained athletes, and both male and female rowers participate.…

Why did the Basque people travel from Western Europe to the banks of Newfoundland, Canada, in the early 1500s? They discovered cod. The cod is a fish native to the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and the North and Barents seas. Young cod have special enzymes in their bodies that act like a natural heating blanket. This feature allows them to survive in sub-zero temperatures. Cod generally prefer to live at a range of 33 to 655 feet (10 to 200 meters) below the surface. However, fishermen have caught them at depths that reach 1,968 feet (600 meters). These hardy fish can also live in different environments—from rocky bottoms to muddy or sandy seabeds. Cod eat whatever fits into their mouths. They swim with their mouths wide open,…

ost people who visit Basque country enjoy some tasty pintxos speared on toothpicks. They can be a snack, an appetizer, or—if you eat enough of them—a whole meal! Try hosting a party with friends. Include any number of small slices or cubes of food from the list of suggested ingredients below. Make sure to ask an adult for help when cutting the ingredients into pieces. And be sure your toothpicks are sturdy enough to hold together these loaded snacks! You Need Slices of fresh or toasted bread, such as a baguette or other long loaf Cubes of cheeses, such as Brie, Swiss, Edam, or sharp Cheddar Slices of firm sausage, such as chorizo or salami, or cubes of ham Assortment of small fish, such as anchovies and sardines, or shrimp…

Did the pioneers just leave their covered wagons in the middle of nowhere, or what?” I asked this question while driving through Idaho as a child. I remembered learning about covered wagons and the pioneers who had settled many towns in the American West. But I couldn’t understand why the wagons were still around. They were used a long time ago, right? I learned that the wagons I saw weren’t quite the same as the “Go West!” covered wagons I had learned about in school. They were actually sheepwagons that were used by sheepherders who came to the United States from Basque country. As a Basque American, I knew some words in Euskara. I knew Basque dances, and I had a beautiful Basque dancing costume. I knew Basque people had…

Direnik ez sinistu, ez direnik ez esan. (Don’t believe they exist, but don’t say they are not real.) —Basque proverb Basque folklore includes many fantastic beings that people once believed lived in the forests and mountains of the Basque regions. The lamia is a well-known example of these creatures. The lamia (the plural is lamiak) generally takes the form of a pretty young lady. The lady lives near springs and rivers and spends her time doing laundry or combing her long blond hair with a golden comb. Her most identifiable feature is the webbed duck feet she has instead of human feet. Lamiak are considered rich because they usually have a lot of gold in their possession. Although they do not do anything really bad to humans, they’re not to…