Basque Witch Dance of Spain is Festival Favorite
Ethnic Dance Honors Proud Past of an Ancient Peoples
Jul 9, 2009
This popular European folk dance is performed in the Basque towns of Oria-Lasarte and Antzuola during Carnival, a festival in February or March. Sorgin is the word for witch in Euskera, the language of the Basques who claim to be the prehistoric descendants of the Cro-Magnon people.
Euskal Herria, Euskadi, or Basque Country is the name of the region located on the Bay of Biscay and tumbles down both sides of the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France and Spain. Here, superstitions about witches are prevalent to this day.
Basque history and language is so ancient it has no traceable beginning. It is believed that their cave-dwelling ancestors that populated the Pyrenees produced the famous cave paintings more than 20,000 years ago at places like Altxerri, Lascaux and Santimamine.
Today, the ancient Basque homelands are split into seven provinces: Guispucoa, Navarre, Alava, Biscay on the Spanish side and Lapurdi, Lower Navarre and Zuberoa on the French.
Basque Festivals Promote Ethnic Dances
Travelers to Spain or France who wander through Basque Country notice a distinct change in culture and traditions. Basque forms of dance, food, music, poetry, language, art and ethnic clothing differentiate these people from all other European types.
Once independent, many Basques still chafe at being colonized. There are constant reminders throughout your journey there that although ethnic Basques may be ruled by Spain, they are not to be called Spaniards. “I am Basque!” they remonstrate. Even signposts of streets and names of towns are written in the Basque language alongside Spanish names.
Throughout the year, there are hundreds of Basque festivals in which ceremonial and religious dances are major attractions. Basque people are very proud of their novel dance form that is possibly a forerunner of classical ballet according to Mark Kurlansky, author of the Basque History of the World. Strong muscled men certainly do high jumps, leap in the air and twist and turn with the grace of a gazelle and yet the footwork of both male and female dancers is intricate and refined.
Religious Dance vs. Pagan Dance
Many of the Basque festivals today are elaborate celebrations of Holy Days, a phenomenon following the Church’s practice of using cruel persuasion to force allegiance to the Catholic religion during the Spanish Inquisition.
Basques were the last population in Europe to be converted to Christianity. It took burning at the stake or torturing hundreds of women accused of witchcraft to eradicate paganism. Pagan dances were naturally forbidden as they honored idols, gods and goddesses.
But dance was deeply ingrained in the Basque world, The Church found it necessary to incorporate features of ethnic dances into the new religion, according to Robin Rinaldi, author of European Dance: Ireland, Poland & Spain. Since these medieval ages, dances honoring the saints are performed in similar Basque style as dances honoring pagan gods and goddesses, or witches, except with more solemn and ceremonial suitability.
Magical and Mythical Beings
Today, most Basque festivals include numerous folk dances that impart their pagan myths and traditions. These dances are a proud tribute to the memory of the mysterious Basque ancestry.
The old religion of the Basque people was pagan. They worshiped the sun and legends still abound of mythological numens and spirits controlling life on earth. The women used herbs for healing; some called it magic.
The most well known deity is the goddess Mari. During the Inquisition she was labeled a witch. As the queen of the spirits, she personifies the earth. Mari is said to live in caves, the center of Basque mythology, according to the 2002 tourist guide Traditional Culture and Avant-garde. Caves are the source of health procuring spring waters. Mari is a beautiful lady with a golden comb in her flowing hair. No one comes near her and she condemns and punishes the telling of lies, theft, pride and lack of respect towards others.
When angered, Mari is the source of hurricane force winds and storm clouds. Contrary tales accuse Mari of consorting with devils. There are many such mythical magical beings portrayed at Basque festivals.
Sorgin Dantza
Basque dances vary in style from place to place with about 400 traditional dances cataloged and taught to special dancers. The sorgin dantza, the witches dance, can be observed at the festival Carnival held about 40 days before Easter prior to Lent. The carnival is similar to Mardi Gras and there is much feasting, drinking and dancing before the religious days of penance and prayer begin.
Sorgin dantza is comprised of men and women often dancing in accompaniment to the “txistu” or Basque flute. It is meant to be a burlesque dance with a combination of madcap, wanton and sometimes rather lewd body movements.
Examples of sorgin dantza at Carnival can be seen on YouTube. More information about traveling the Basque Country can be found at BasqueCountryTourism.net.
Sources
Kulture Web, Idazti. Traditional Culture and Avant-garde: “Myths and Legends.” Eusko Juarlaritza/Basque Government Department of Industry,Trade and Tourism. 1st Edition, April 2002.
Kurlansky, Mark. Basque History of the World; The Story of a Nation. New York: Penguin Group, 2001.
Rinaldi, Robin. European Dance, Ireland, Poland & Spain. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2004.
Buber's Basque Pages. Traditions and Folklore.Traditional Dances. Buber.net. 2005
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