All posts by buber

Basque Fact of the Week: The Province of Nueva Vizcaya

When I wrote about the various cities of Durango a while back, that opened a thread of the Basque history of Mexico and the southwest United States that is ripe for further exploration. That history is reflected in so many place names of the region. Not only are cities like Durango named after their Basque […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #13

Alferrak, beti lanez beterik. Lazy people are always busy.

Basque Fact of the Week: Picon Punch

Maybe you’ve heard that some politicians in Nevada are trying again to make Picon Punch the official state cocktail. It’s not the first time, but that Ferino, a distillery in Reno, is making their own version of Amer Picon, the central ingredient that gives the Punch its distinct flavor, is perhaps going to help the […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #12

Alferkeria, askoren ondamendia. Laziness leads many people astray.

Basque Fact of the Week: The Elizate or Democratic Town Councils

One of the less appreciated aspects of Basque history is their strong democratic tradition. So central has democracy been to the Basque Country that John Adams was impressed, noting how the Basque Country was “a republic; and one of the privileges they have most insisted on, is not to have a king.” Central to the […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #11

Alfer egon eta alfer-lana egin, biak berdin. Doing nothing and doing useless work are the same thing.

Basque Fact of the Week: The Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno

“During the darkest day of the Franco era when we were denied our language, our culture and our identity, we were consoled by the knowledge that an American university in Nevada had lit one small candle in the night.” – Basque President Jose Antonio Ardanza This is how important the William A. Douglass Center for […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #10

Aldi luzeak, guztia ahaztu. With the passing of time, all things are forgotten.

Basque Fact of the Week: The Koadrila, or Group of Friends

For me, the best thing about the Basque Country is the strong social connections between family and friends. The Basques are so tight knit. Life-long groups of friends celebrate everything together and these groups are essentially a second family. Maybe this comes from having more compact towns and cities where it is easy to get […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #9

Aita biltzaileari, seme hondatzaile. A thrifty father begets a squandering son.