ST. JOHN
ST. JOHN
June 23St. John’s eveSt. John
On the eve of St. John, according to the tradition of the Basque Country, as in many villages, in Urretxu a fire is lit in the square of the Gernika tree. For many years a kind of “coven” is depicted and the villagers dance around the fire. First we go out the dancers of Urretxu-Zumarraga dressed as witches; after three dances, the txistularis of the village begin to play the “balkalrlos” and the villagers enter the square dancing. We dance “Herri dantza”, “San Juan zortziko” and many more dances.
June 24St. John’s DaySt. John
On this day, at the hermitage of Santa Barbara in Urretxu, St. John’s Day is celebrated. At 9:30 in the morning we meet at Urretxu City Hall, and with the txistularis of Urretxu we go to the hermitage. There, after the annual mass, we dance the greeting and the Zortziko of St. John in the church, and then another dance outside the church. Every year we offer a different dance to the people.
June 24St. John’s DaySt. John
On this day, at the hermitage of Santa Barbara in Urretxu, St. John’s Day is celebrated. At 9:30 in the morning we meet at Urretxu City Hall, and with the txistularis of Urretxu we go to the hermitage. There, after the annual mass, we dance the greeting and the Zortziko of St. John in the church, and then another dance outside the church. Every year we offer a different dance to the people.
