Episode 5: Summer Solstice folklore & customs

Descripción

Episode focused on Summer Solstice folklore and festivities in Euskal Herria. You learn about mythical and magical correspondences regarding this solar festival, folk rituals and rites of passage, customs and dances related to totemic figures and useful knowledge about ethnobotany.

The traditional music has been specially chosen to show you significant pieces and folklore details that you may find interesting.

In this case, the first magical chant is sung by the young women of Urdiain (Navarre). You can see the whole ritual in this video: https://youtu.be/iSkJwZA4Wjg

The second melody belongs to a “soka dantza” (circular dance) from Leitza (Navarre): https://youtu.be/5OzrU7G9Jw0

The third song is a fragment of the “azeri dantza” from Hernani (Gipuzkoa). You will hear the sound of the “puxikak” (bladders) the dancers hold in their hands to hit the participants during the performance: https://youtu.be/F9bjg-0g-0Y Allegedlly, the beating is similar to the one the Lupercos did in the Roman culture.