All posts by buber

Basque Fact of the Week: Months of the Year in Basque

When the ancient Basques looked at the sky, they saw the same thing that other peoples did – stars, planets, comets, constellations – but they gave them different names. I have a brief list of some of those names collected by Professor Jon Patrick. In trying to find a more complete and modern list, I […]

Eusko-Folklore by José Miguel de Barandiaran. Series 3, Part 1: Preliminary Notes

Over 100 years ago, in 1921, José Miguel de Barandiaran began publishing a series of articles under the banner of Eusko-Folklore. His work was interrupted by the Spanish Civil War but in 1954 he resumed publishing what he then called his third series of articles. These appeared in the journal Munibre, Natural Sciences Supplement of […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #33

Astoari ezin mendeka, mendeka albardari. Unable to take it out on the donkey, take it out on the saddle.

Basque Fact of the Week: Neomak, New Sounds From Old Roots

Rediscovering Gatibu at Jaialdi was a great experience, but Lisa, Rose, and I were also blown away by a band I’d never heard of before: Neomak. Opening for Gatibu in the Idaho Central Arena, Neomak both had a more traditional sound than Gatibu – trikitixa, tambourines, and drums – but pushed that sound in new […]

Basque Fact of the Week: Rowing Together, Honorees of the Zortziak Bat Symposium

The theme of the Zortziak Bat symposium that was held during Jaialdi was Elkarrekin Arraunean, or “Rowing Together,” highlighting the contributions of so many people that have helped promote and support the Basque language and culture. Seven people were honored for their lifetime of effort – I was pleased to be one of those recognized. […]

Basque Proverb of the Week: Proverb #31

Askoren mina, tontoen atsegina. Only the stupid find consolation for their suffering in the suffering of others.

Basque Fact of the Week: Su ta Gar, the Star and Exoplanet with Basque Names

I have a dream of slowly migrating the original parts of this site – the parts you can find with the menu on the left of each page – to the more modern blog format of the newer version of Buber’s Basque Page. One of my first forays was to copy my translation of MG […]

Fighting Basques: Agustín Guisasola, Basque Jai-Alai Player and World War II Veteran

In celebration of Basque Diaspora Day 2025, which on Monday, September 8 in Markina, Bizkaia, will recognize the contribution of pelota to the Diaspora, the authors of this blog publish the previously untold story of the jai-alai player from Eibar, Agustín Guisasola, a World War II veteran with the United States Army. This year, the International […]

Basque Fact of the Week: The New Basque Diaspora Act

Tomorrow, September 8, the anniversary of Juan Sebastián Elcano‘s circumnavigation of the globe, is the International Day of the Basque Diaspora. This day is meant to highlight the contributions the Basque diaspora have made to Basque culture and Basque society. The Basque Government has made an explicit effort to strengthen connections and relations with the diaspora, […]