#Basque country holidays

[vintagepromotions]

'Go by train to the Basque coast'

French Railways travel poster for Basque coast (1964). Artwork by Jean Jacquelin.

[beautiful-basque-country]

Source

Growth of holiday homes in Spain: number of them 2020-2023

The number of holiday homes in Bilbo has been increased by 45.6% in just three years, the second biggest rise in Spain just after Salamanca.

This crazy rate of growth will have dreadful consequences, especially here in Euskadi where we have Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa in the top 5 of the areas with most expensive rents, but also placed last at average m2 per apartment: this is, our flats are the smallest ones, and yet they're among the most expensive to rent / buy.

IT'S.

INSANE.

Airbnb and companies alike will drive local people in touristic areas homeless in the end.

[tenrose]

I can't with this fucking rain anymore 😤

[postcard-from-the-past]

100 years ago:

Biarritz, France (by Eric M)

[useless-catalanfacts]

Happy 600th birthday! Per molts anys!

Giants are one of the most iconic figures in Catalan culture. Each town, city, or neighbourhood has their own couple of giant hollow figures that usually represent the mythical founders of the town or characters from local legends. People join the group to carry them and make them spin and dance on the streets on the days of local festivities, to the sound of live traditional Catalan festive music.

Giants don't exist only in Catalan culture, they're also present in other parts of Western Europe like Belgium, France, Portugal, Sicily, Southern Italy, the Basque Country, and some parts of Aragon and Castilla (Spain).

But this year, we are celebrating: the earliest ever written document anywhere in the world that mentions a giant figure dates from 1424 and talks about the Barcelona giants that danced in the Corpus festivity. This assures us that giants have been part of Barcelona's festivities for at least 600 years. Then, the giants were King David and the Giant (characters from the Bible), but with time they changed a bit and by the 1500s they were a king and a queen, who came to be identified with the king James I and the queen Violant of Hungary, the most iconic and important monarchs in Catalan history.

However, since they symbolise people from Catalan history, the giants were repressed by the Spanish fascist dictatorships of Primo de Rivera and Francisco Franco. These regimes had the aim of exterminating Catalan culture. They banned and persecuted the Catalan language and identity and many cultural celebrations of Catalan people, such as banning some songs and holidays. For this reason, the giants were forced to be renamed Isabella and Ferdinand and pretend like they represented the Catholic Kings, two key figures of Spanish history. When the dictatorship ended, they became Jaume I and Violant again.

The figures of the Barcelona city giants used nowadays aren't the same ones as 600 years ago, of course. The figures get copied into new ones when it's necessary. The ones used now were made in 1991 copying the previous figures, made in 1921.

Giants are adored by kids, and the Barcelona city male giant (gegant de la Ciutat) and the giant from Santa Maria del Pi parish of Barcelona (gegant del Pi) are also the main characters of one of the most popular traditional children's songs in Catalonia.

We love to see them continue being as popular as ever. Yesterday, they celebrated their anniversary with a meeting of giants from all the neighbourhoods of Barcelona and well as from other cities and towns. More than 600 giants gathered in Barcelona to dance together for the Barcelona city giants anniversary!

[chic-a-gigot]

La Mode nationale, no. 16, 19 avril 1902, Paris. Groupe de toilettes pour jeunes femmes ou jeunes filles. Bibliothèque nationale de France

(1) Costume de promenade ou villégiature pour jeune femme ou jeune fille, en foulard cachemire corail sur fond crème. Jupe en forme, ornée dans le bas de motifs appliqués en dentelle crème. Corsage boléro, arrondi en avant bordé d'un entre-deux rappelant celui de la jupe, et s'ouvrant sur un plastron de mousseline de soie crème, avec col droit drapé. Grand col de cluny découpé, la pointe en retient le mouvement drapé du boléro qui se replie en tuyau d'orgue. Haute ceinture de liberty corail drapée, qui se perd en arrière sous le corsage terminé par une basque. Mancheron de foulard, d'où part la manche de dentelle faisant ballon vers le poignet court qui la resserre.

Matériaux: 12 mètres de foulard; 1m,50 de mousseline de soie, 0m,50 de liberty; dentelle en laize.

Capeline de paillasson souple. Sur le fond plat joli nœud de liberty crème, couronne de derises.

(1) Walking or holiday suit for young women or girls, in coral cashmere scarf on a cream background. Shaped skirt, decorated at the bottom with applied cream lace motifs. Bolero bodice, rounded at the front edged with an in-between reminiscent of that of the skirt, and opening onto a cream silk chiffon bib, with draped straight collar. Large cut-out cluny collar, the tip retains the draped movement of the bolero which folds into an organ pipe. High draped coral liberty belt, which is lost behind the bodice finished with a peplum. Scarf cap, from which the ballooning lace sleeve extends towards the short wrist which tightens it.

Soft doormat capeline. On the flat background, pretty cream liberty bow, wreath of cherries.

—

(2) Robe de campagne pour jeune femme en voile de laine son mouillé. Courte jupe plissée tombant aux deux tiers de la longueur sur un haut volant en forme de guipure ajourée posée sur un transparent de linon même ton.

Corsage plissé et blousé avec berthe contournant l'empiècement et jabotant en avant sur un pli plat en liberty turquoise qui ferme le corsage. Empiècement de guipure à clair, haut col droit. Ceinture drapée de liberty turquoise. Manche de guipure à clair, droite jusqu'au coude où elle s'évase, continuée par un large bouffant de voile et terminée par un petit volant.

Matériaux: 6 mètres de voile son mouillé; 5 mètres de guipure en laize.

(2) Country dress for young women in wet wool voile. Short pleated skirt falling two-thirds of the length over a ruffled top in the shape of openwork guipure placed on transparent lawn in the same tone.

Pleated and bloused bodice with berthe going around the yoke and frilling forward on a flat pleat in turquoise liberty which closes the bodice. Clear guipure yoke, high straight collar. Belt draped with turquoise liberty. Clear guipure sleeve, straight to the elbow where it flares, continued by a large voile bouffant and finished with a small ruffle.

[wildelydawn]

i was tagged by @divorcedmalewife in this tag game to get to know people better! I don't know if I will be tagging ten people, but I will try my bestest.

Thank you thank you for the tag, my friend, I hope you're well! ^^

Last song:

Fav color: Black, or various shades of dark blue.

Last book: Not technically a book but Three Tragedies by Federico García Lorca. (The plays are Blood Wedding, Yerma, and Bernarda Alba)

Last movie: Probably some documentary, I honestly can't remember because I've been main lining La Liga and football for months now.

Last TV show: The Secret of Us (Thai GL! Highly recommend!!)

Sweet/spicy/savoury: Savory.

Relationship status: Taken and available.

Last thing I googled: Been researching several holidays and festivals that take place in Basque country for LFTS.

Looking forward to: Getting my work inbox to under 200 and the upcoming Barca and Athletic matches.

No pressure tagggggggging: @emberfaye @xxatlasxx @shou-jpeg @shubaka @clawbehavior @fawndlyvenus @xxhappy-chickenxx @loveable-sea-lemon @therapeutic-dose @crumchycowmoomoo

Edit: sadly, some of my tags weren't working before, so I had to redo them :T You may be notified twice! Apologies! Still no pressure to do this. ^^

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 10.25

Holidays

Accounting Career Day

Angram Day (Day of Fulfillment; Nauru)

Armed Forces Day (Romania)

Balaclava Day

Basque Country Day (Spain)

Battle of Agincourt Day (UK)

Beet Root Day (French Republic)

Cartoonists Against Crime Day

Chucky The Notorious Killer Doll Day

Council of Elrond Day (Lord of the Rings)

Customs Officer’s Day (Russia)

Day of the Basque Country

Disabled Ace Day

Dioscuri (Shoemaker’s Day)

European Day of Justice

European Lawyers Day

Gormanudr (Old Icelandic)

International Artists Day

International Butterfly Skin Day

International Hoist the Colours Day

Know Your Classmates Day

Larry Itliong Day (California)

Longbow Day

Lung Health Day

MDS World Awareness Day

Military Chaplain Day (Ukraine)

National Danielle Day

National Dog Adoption Day (UK)

National Fine Art Appreciation Day

National Gospel Day (Cook Islands)

National Hay Safe Day (Australia)

National Hope for Henry Day

National I Care About You Day

National Kick Tall People Day

National Merri Music Day (a.k.a. Reggae)

National No Workplace Drama Day

National Shoe Lover Day

National Skinflammation Day

National Yasmin Day

Northamptonshire Day (UK)

Occipital Neuralgia Awareness Day

Pharmacy Buyer Day

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome Awareness Day (UK)

Punk-For-A-Day Day

Retrocession Day (Taiwan)

Say "Hey" Day

Thanksgiving Day (Grenada)

World Dwarfism Awareness Day

World Karate Day

World Opera Day

World Spina Bifida Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Feta Cheese Protection Day

International Crisp Sandwich Day (UK)

National Greasy Foods Day

Sourest Day

World Pasta Day

World Pizza Makers Day

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Lithuania)

Hawke’s Bay Provincial Day (New Zealand)

Lienish Sovereign Republic (Declared; 2021) [unrecognized]

Republic Day (Kazakhstan)

Restoration Day (Taiwan; 1945)

Sovereignty Day (Slovenia)

Uantir (Declared; 2007) [unrecognized]

4th & Last Friday in October

Bring Your Jack-O-Lantern to Work Day [Last Friday before Halloween]

Comfort Food Friday [Every Friday]

Education Communication Day [Last Friday]

Field Trip Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Finally Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Five For Friday [Every Friday]

Food Waste Friday (Canada) [Last Friday]

Frankenstein Friday [Last Friday]

Flapjack Friday [4th Friday of Each Month]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Flatbread Friday [Last Friday of Each Month]

Flirtatious Friday [4th Friday of Each Month]

Friday Finds [Every Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Global Champagne Day [4th Friday]

International Bandanna Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

International Champagne Day [4th Friday]

Mokosh Day (Ukraine) [Last Friday]

National BETA Founder’s Day [4th Friday]

National Breadstick Day [Last Friday]

Nevada Day (Nevada) [Last Friday]

Red Friday [Friday of Last Full Week]

TGIF (Thank God It's Friday) [Every Friday]

World Lemur Day [Last Friday]

World Teachers’ Day (Australia) [Last Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning October 25 (3rd Full Week of October)

International Magic Week (thru 10.31)

Festivals Beginning October 25, 2024

Arkansas Bean Fest and Championship Outhouse Races (Mountain View, Arkansas) [thru 10.26]

Armageddon Expo (Auckland, New Zealand) [thru 10.28]

Bram Stoker Festival (Dublin, Ireland) [thru 10.28]

Cedar Livestock Heritage Festival (Cedar City, Utah) [thru 10.26]

Czhilispiel (Flatonia, Texas) [thru 10.27]

Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest (Fredericksburg, Texas) [thru 10.26]

French Food Festival (Larose, Louisiana) [thru 10.27]

Georgia Gourd Festival (Griffin, Georgia) [thru 10.27]

Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival (Richmond Hill, Georgia) [thru 10.26]

Hawai'i Food & Wine Festival (Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii) [thru 10.27]

Lund International Fantastic Film Festival (Lund, Sweden) [thru 10.31]

Naples Stone Crab Festival (Naples, Florida) [thru 10.27]

Shrimp & Grits Festival (Jekyll Island, Georgia) [thru 10.26]

South Louisiana Blackpot Festival & Cookoff (Lafayette, Louisiana) [thru 10.26]

Taste Gala (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Feast Days

Akihisa Ikeda (Artology)

Ann Tyler (Writerism)

Antonio Ciseri (Artology)

Bernat Calbó (a.k.a. Bernard of Calvo; Christian; Saint)

Boniface I, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Canna (Christian; Saint)

Carlo Gnocchi (Christian; Blessed)

Cockatoo (Muppetism)

Crysanthus and Daria (Western Christianity; Martyrs)

Crispin and Crispinian (Christian; Martyrs)

The Day To Be Named Later (Church of the SubGenius)

Elif Shafak (Writerism)

Feast of Forty Martyrs of England and Wales (Christian; Martyrs)

Fréret (Positivist; Saint)

Fructus (Christian; Saint)

Gaudentius of Brescia (Christian; Saint)

Goeznovius (Christian; Saint)

The Hallowing of Nestorius (Christian; Saint)

Ismail Gulgee (Artology)

John Berryman (Writerism)

Minias of Florence (Christian; Saint)

Mar Nestorius (in the Nestorian churches; Christian; Saint)

Munzipan Feast (Shamanism)

Nils Dardel (Artology)

Pablo Picasso (Artology)

Peter Ledger (Artology)

Requena Nozal (Artology)

Richard Parkes Bonington (Artology)

Selket’s Day (Pagan)

The Six Welsh Martyrs and companions (in Wales; Christian; Saint)

Tabitha (Dorcas; Christian; Saint)

Taiyō Matsumoto (Artology)

Tegulus (Christian; Saint)

Thaddeus McCarthy (Christian; Blessed)

Thesmophoria begins (Ancient Greek festival honoring the goddesses Demeter and her daughter Persephone; ends 27th; originally 11-13 Pyanepsion)

Tyrus Wong (Artology)

Victoria Francés (Artology)

World Pasta Day (Pastafarian)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Adventures of Popeye (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1935)

Beat Crazy, by Joe Jackson (Album; 1980)

Better Than Revenge, by Taylor Swift (Song; 2010)

Billy Jack, by Honeyhoney (Album; 2011)

Camelot (Film; 1967)

Curly Sue (Film; 1991)

Daydream Believer, by The Monks (Song; 1967)

The Electric Company (TV Series; 1971)

A Fine Feathered Frenzy (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1954)

Frida (Film; 2002)

The Grass is Blue, by Dolly Parton (Album; 1999)

Halloween (Film; 1978)

Happy Holidays (Phantasies Cartoon; 1940)

The Housing Problem (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1946)

Jackass: The Movie (Film; 2002)

Jolly the Clown (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1957)

Krush Groove (Film; 1985)

Meatless Tuesday (Andy Panda Cartoon; 1943)

National Ransom, by Elvis Costello (Album; 2010)

Newhart (TV Series; 1982)

No Plan B, 27th Jack Reacher book, by Lee Child (Novel; 2022)

No Woman, Not Cry, by Bob Marley (Song; 1974)

Otogizōshi: The Fairy Tale Book of Dazai Osamu, by Osamu Dazai (Short Stories; 1945)

Pal Joey (Film; 1957)

Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb Minor, by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Piano Concerto; 1875)

Pink Arcade (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1978)

Poinciana, by Benny Carter (Song; 1943)

The Preamble (America Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1975)

The Satanic Bible, by Anton Szandor LaVey (Religious Text; 1969)

Seven Sinners (Film; 1940)

Shadow of the Moon, by M.M. Kaye (Novel; 1956)

Sneak, Snoop, and Snitch (Animated Antics Cartoon; 1940)

The Snoozing’ Bruin (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1971)

Still Crazy After All These Years, by Paul Simon (Album; 1975)

Speak Now, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2010)

Swords in the Mist, by Fritz Leiber (Short Stories; 1968) [Fafhrd and Gray Mouser #3]

Tour de Farce (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

Twelfth Night (Film; 1996)

Today’s Name Days

Krispin, Krispinian (Austria)

Darija, Katarina (Croatia)

Beáta (Czech Republic)

Crispinus (Denmark)

Raivo, Riivo, Veevo, Viivo (Estonia)

Sointu (Finland)

Crépin (France)

Daria, Hans, Ludwig, Lutz (Germany)

Chrysanthi, Hrysaphis (Greece)

Bianka, Blanka (Hungary)

Daria (Italy)

Beāte, Beatrise, Betrise (Latvia)

Darija, Inga, Švitrigaila, Vaigedė (Lithuania)

Margrete, Märtha, Merete (Norway)

Bończa, Bonifacy, Chryzant, Daria, Inga, Kryspin, Maur, Sambor, Taras, Teodozjusz, Wilhelmina (Poland)

Marcian, Martirie (Romania)

Aurel (Slovakia)

Bernardo, Crisanto, Crispín, Frutos (Spain)

Inga, Ingalillt (Sweden)

Denzel, Crispin, Crispina, Gavin, Gawen (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 299 of 2024; 67 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of Week 43 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Gort (Ivy) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 9 (Jia-Xu), Day 23 (en-Xu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 23 Tishri 5785

Islamic: 21 Rabi II 1446

J Cal: 29 Orange; Eighthday [29 of 30]

Julian: 12 October 2024

Moon: 38%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 19 Descartes (11th Month) [D’Aguesseau / Montesquieu]

Runic Half Month: Wyn (Joy) [Day 4 of 15]

Season: Autumn or Fall (Day 34 of 90)

Week: 3rd Full Week of October

Zodiac: Scorpio (Day 3 of 30)

[rabbitcruiser]

Day of Cantabria Institutions

The Day of Cantabria Institutions is on July 28 and marks the anniversary of when the autonomous province of Cantabria was created. Many people outside of Spain may not know of Cantabria. We’ll go out on a limb and say most of us don’t know Spain beyond Madrid and Barcelona. Cantabria’s story is proof of that. Cantabria is an independent province in the north of Spain, famous for its natural and cultural beauty. With a way of life and identity unlike other parts of Spain, it’s no surprise why Cantabrians are a proud people.

History of Day of Cantabria Institutions

Most of us may think Spain is a culturally homogenous country but it is not so. In reality, Spain comprises several autonomous regions. Each one possesses a certain level of self-governance and distinct cultural identities. Cantabria on the northern coast is one such example.

Centuries ago, history first recorded the emergence of a region called Cantabria – home to one of the fiercest Celtic tribes the world had seen. The region’s history goes as far back as 36000 B.C. to 9000 B.C. Stories of a fascinating past are evident from the 6,500 caves in Cantabria — 60 of which contain cave paintings by people in the Paleolithic Age.

Eventually, the region came under the control of the Roman Empire despite the Cantabrians putting up a courageous fight. Cantabria was one of the last places to fall. The Roman conquest ushered in an era of turmoil, where everyone from the Visigoths to the Moors tried taking control of Cantabria. The region finally merged with local kingdoms such as Castile and Asturias.

At the turn of the 18th century, interest in the unique Cantabrian identity arose once again. Several movements of cultural and social resurgence ensued. Around this time, the Cantabrians become serious about forming an independent province. The first attempt took place at the start of the century but was unsuccessful. The wheels began to turn again at the end of the 18th century. Finally, the province of Cantabria was officially born in 1778. Today, Cantabria is an autonomous region in Spain. The Day of Cantabria Institutions commemorates the journey to self-governance and the people’s freedom.

Day of Cantabria Institutions timeline

101 A.D. — 200 A.D. Earliest Historical Records

History first records evidence of a region named Cantabria occupied predominantly by Celtic tribes.

1778 A Province is Born

An assembly convenes in Puente San Miguel to officially form the Province of Cantabria.

1981 Free and Autonomous

On December 30, Cantabria becomes an autonomous region.

1993 The Formation of Institutions Day

Officials unanimously approve a proposal to make July 28 Day of Cantabria Institutions.

Day of Cantabria Institutions FAQs

What is Cantabria known for?

Apart from its stunning coastlines, Cantabria is famous for the Cave of Altamira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Altamira is a cave complex with drawings that provide insights into the Paleolithic Age.

What is the capital of Cantabria?

Santander is the capital of Cantabria and one of its largest cities. It is home to approximately 526,866 people.

Are the Basques Spanish?

The Basques originally come from regions in northwest Spain and southwest France. These regions are called ‘Euskal Herria’ by the Basque people.

Day of Cantabria Institutions Activities

Celebrate like a local

Visit Cantabria

Learn about Cantabria

Today is a public holiday in Cantabria. Celebrate with a big, communal meal the way Cantabrians usually do. Participating in sports competitions is another traditional way to celebrate.

Cantabria is still a lesser-known, unspoiled travel destination. The region has over 135 miles of stunning coastline and quaint towns.

Cantabria is proof that there’s more to Spain than meets the eye. Spend today reading up about the region’s fascinating history and culture.

5 Facts About Spain That Will Blow Your Mind

Spain shares borders with Africa

Spanish is widely-spoken

British vs. Spanish Empire

Not everyone in Spain speaks Spanish

Home to the first novel

Spain has an outpost in Morocco called Cueta, which means it’s the only European country to share a land border with Africa.

Spanish is the second-most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin.

With territories in the Philippines, Southern, and South America, the sun never sets on the Spanish empire.

Basque County speaks Basque, Galicia is mostly Celtic, and Catalonia speaks Catalan.

The world’s first novel was Miguel de Cervantes’ “Don Quixote.”

Why We Love Day of Cantabria Institutions

Spain through new eyes

Recognizing unique cultures

Celebrates autonomy

Spain is Madrid, Barcelona, and the flamenco, among others. Not many realize that the country has so much more to it.

The Day of the Institutions of Cantabria celebrates a region’s distinct identity. It reminds us not to homogenize or oversimplify ideas of national identity.

Self-determination anywhere in the world is a cause for celebration. We raise our glasses with and to Cantabria today.

Source

[askwhatsforlunch]

Basque Gambas with Creamy Tomato Sauce

I made these mouth-watering Basque Gambas with Creamy Tomato Sauce on Bastille Day as Jules was home for a few days, and it brought back recent but very fond memories of our holiday in the Basque Country. I attempted to recreate a dish I ate in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. I believe they make a creamy pepper sauce at La Diva restaurant, but this was just as tasty! Happy Tuesday!

Ingredients (serves 3):

1 tablespoon Chili and Herb Oil

15 to 18 fresh gambas (King prawns) (about 500 grams/1.10 pound)

1/4 teaspoon Piment d’Espelette (a hot chili from the Basque Country) (or Cayenne pepper)

1/2 tablespoon olive oil

1 large shallot

a good bunch Garden Parsley

1 large, ripe tomato

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel or sea salt flakes

1/4 teaspoon Piment d’Espelette (or Cayenne pepper)

1 lemon

1/2 tablespoon caster sugar

1/3 cup double cream

In a large, deep skillet, heat Chili and Herb Oil over a high flame. Once hot, add the gambas, and cook, stirring often, until they turned bright pink, and just start browning. Sprinkle with Piment d’Espelette and cook, another minute or two.  Transfer gambas to a plate; set aside.

Add olive oil in the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-high.

Peel and finely chop shallot, and stir into the skillet. Cook, a couple of minutes. Finely chop most of the Garden Parsley, saving some for garnish, and stir into the skillet. Cook, 1 minute more.

Dice tomato, and add, along with its juice, to the skillet. Cook, stirring, often, a few minutes, until tomato collapses into a sauce. Add garlic, cook 1 minute more. Season with fleur de sel and Piment d’Espelette.

Thoroughly squeeze in the juice of the lemon. Cook, another couple of minutes. Then, stir in sugar until dissolved. 

Add double cream, and return reserved gambas to the skillet. Give a good stir, coating generously in the sauce.

Finely chop remaining Parsley.

Serve Basque Gambas with Creamy Tomato Sauce hot, sprinkled with chopped Parsley, rice, and a glass of well-chilled white or rosé Irouléguy.

[terranautica]

welcome!

this blog loves planet earth and the people in it.

some notes:

I generally try to identify places + groups

I try to make conscious decisions about tags that respect cultural identities, consider historical context and reject imperialism. I realize this is impossible and messy and doomed to be inconsistent. choices I've made include one Korea, one Ireland, and multiple tags for separatist states, i.e. Scotland, Catalan Countries.

I am currently unsure when or if it makes sense to tag the "bigger" nation in a post about an autonomous region, ex. China and Tibet, Faroe Islands and Denmark. I want to respect widespread independence movements, but also not become bloated with regional tags. Tibet deserves to be free of China but I have to laugh at modern Texas separatism.

Israel does not get a tag. Jewish diaspora, Free Palestine, genocide, USA, or anti imperialism are used.

I am not always sure when to use the indigenous peoples tag. if I am unsure I will probably leave it out.

except the history and prehistory tag, I currently am not tagging things that no longer exist, ex. Soviet Union, Roman Empire. I may instead tag with related tags, ex. Russia, Greece

Tags like EU, UK, Africa, Asia, Latin American, Polynesian, etc. are used in posts that refer to many places/groups collectively ex. Lunar New Year in Asia

I try to tag the country/group that an artist/writer/creator belongs to, ex. a post featuring Baldwin tagged with USA, literature, black diaspora

tags are ever-evolving!

country/place tags:

Africa, Albania, Angolia, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Catalan Countries, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Emirates, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guatemala, Haiti, Hawai'i, Hungary, Iberia, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, free Palestine, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, free Tibet, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Wales, West Papau, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

diaspora + ethnic group + cultural group tags:

Ainu, Apache, Bahá'í, Basque, Black diaspora, Chechen, Choctaw, Chulym, Dakota, Dharumbal, Dolgan, Galician, Gavião, Guarani-Kaiowá, Hui, Igbo, immigrants, Ingorot, Inuit, Ixil, Jewish diaspora, Karakalpak, Kashmir, Kazakh, Ket, Khakas, Lakota, Latin American, Lezgin, Mah Meri, Maka, Makonda, Mari, Mohegan, Ojibwe, Pataxo, Polynesian, Pueblo peoples, Purepecha, Q'eqchi', Rapa Nui, Rohingya, Romani, Rukai, Ryukyuan, Sakapultek, Samburu, Sámi, Selkup, Sioux, Tamil, Tatar, Tigray, Tlingit, Tokalau, Uyghur, Yazidi

culture + other tags:

agriculture, airports, animals and wildlife, architecture, art, children, clothing and textiles, dance, ecology and environmentalism, festivals and holidays, film and tv, food, geopolitics, history, infrastructure, language, literature, maps, music, myth and legend, my posts, nature, prehistory, postcards and stamps, public transportation, religions and belief systems, solidarity, sports and games, traditions and customs, true spirit of the blog, urban landscape, water and boats, women

ugly tags:

acab, anti capitalism, anti imperialism, anti misogyny, anti xenophobia, genocide

[beautiful-basque-country]

Kaixo! How safe is Basque Country, especially Bilbo? There are some articles online that put Bilbo and Donostia on the list of the least safe cities in Spain, but of course that lists are always subjective to the different manipulations. How safe can tourist feel if they are there for the first time, is it ok to walk around Bilbo at night?

Kaixo anon!

First off, I'm really interested to know your sources or, at least, how old the info is, because I've never ever heard that Donostia and Bilbo are among the most dangerous cities in Spain. EVER.

Was it maybe the Daily Express? If it was - and just to clarify if someone else read it too - to make its ranking, the Daily Express has been based on data published by the website Numbeo. This information, as mentioned on its own site, is based on the opinions received by website visitors in the last 3 years. This means that voters may or may not have been to the city they voted for. In the case of Bilbo, the score is based on the criteria offered by 159 people. Bilbo has welcomed +2M tourists each year in these last 3 years that the poll was running.

Spain is one of the safest countries to visit, and ranked 7th safest country in the world for LGBTQ+ travelers; neither Bilbo nor Donostia are listed among the 10 most dangerous cities in Spain, while Donostia made it into the top 10 safest cities; Bilbo has placed 4th in terms of safety in the World Best Cities ranking this year.

That said, there are 4 key points that may apply to every country: - the bigger the city, the higher the crime rate / insecurity. - the more touristic the city, the higher the crime rate / insecurity. Also, touristic cities tend to be safer for locals than for tourists. - the more we as tourists take preventive measures, the lower the chance to get our goods stolen or be pick-pocketed. - no place is 100% absolutely safe 24/7.

I'm not denying that some tourists may have had bad experiences here, but in general, Euskal Herria is among the safest places in the world for visitors. Much bigger and better known tourist spots ie. Paris, NY, Rome or London, are way more dangerous and still they keep welcoming tourists.

So if you finally dismiss EH as your holiday destination, at least now you know that it shouldn't be due to a supposed lack of safety ^_^.

[belskayatanya]

The bloodiest civil war of the 20th century in Europe was the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. The end of the war according to the chronology of the Francoists is March 1939, when the “victorious units” of the rebel general F. Franco entered Madrid. While according to the version of the Republican part of Spain, the end of the war in one case is 1967, when the last remnants of regular units in the Oran Valley (Southern Catalonia) laid down their arms. According to another version, the resignation of the head of the republic in exile (L. H. Azua) - 1971. To this day, Spain (according to a public opinion poll, more than 53.6% of the population) still celebrates significant dates of the Spanish Republic (the day of the proclamation of the Republic , all holidays of the Republic), uses the symbols of the Republic, for example the tricolor. Most of the public organizations registered with the Spanish Ministry of Internal Affairs are of a socio-political profile (veteran organizations, trade union organizations, parties, even various discussion clubs at the place of residence belong to the republican profile). Of the 17 Spanish autonomous regions, 7 are majority-republican rather than monarchical in orientation. I will name the largest of them: Catalonia, Basque Country, Navarre, Asturias, Andalusia, Murcia.

The article is devoted to little-known fragments of events, practically unstudied even in the Spanish expert community, related to the course of the struggle on the “Northern Front” - the key phase of the Civil War in Spain, the decisive episodes in its course, after which the Civil War can be considered over, with a negative result for the Republican side.

Nothing is forgotten, no one is forgotten. Today, more than 80 years after the tragic events, the main conclusion that every researcher of the Spanish Civil War makes: in a civil war there can be neither winners nor losers. Everyone is a loser.

[brookston]

Holidays 7.13

Holidays

Ann Hutchinson Memorial Day

Atomic Bomb Test Day

Barbershop Music Appreciation Day

Be A Geek For A Day

Blame Someone Else Day

Bottled Beer Day

Childhood Memories Day

Embrace Your Geekness Day

Festival of Inner Worlds

Festival of the Three Cows (Border of France & Basque Spain)

Fool's Paradise Day

Go Wakeboarding Day

Go West Day

Gruntled Workers Day

Guinea Fowl Day (French Republic)

International Day of ADHD Awareness

International Day of Sarcoma

International Growth Hacking Day

International Puzzle Day

International Rock Day

International Rock ’N’ Roll Day

Kashmir Martyrs’ Day (Pakistan)

La Retraite Aux Flambeaux (Night Watch; France)

Naadam, Day 3 (Mongolia)

Nathan Bedford Forrest Day (Tennessee)

National Delaware Day

National Paul Day

National Sam Day

Puzzle Day

Sandra Bland Day (Texas)

713 Day

Swiftie Day

Uniwaine Day (Elderly Men Day; Kiribati)

World Cup Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Beans 'n' Franks Day

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Day

National Beef Tallow Day

National French Fries Day (a.k.a. National French Fry Day)

National Nitrogen Ice Cream Day

2nd Thursday in July

Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo begins (Vernal, Utah) [2nd Thursday thru Saturday]

National Tree Day [2nd Thursday]

Oregon Trail Days begin (Geris, Nebraska) [2nd Thursday thru Sunday]

Oxegen Festival begins (Ireland) [2nd Thursday there Sunday]

Turkey Rama begins (McMinnville, Oregon) [2nd Thursday]

Independence Days

Statehood Day (Montenegro)

Usi (Declared; 2014) [unrecognized]

Wilkland (Declared; 2009) [unrecognized]

Feast Days

Abd-al-Masih (Christian; Saint & Martyr)

Abel of Tacla Haimonot (Coptic Church)

Anacletus (Christian; Martyr)

Asarnha Bucha Day (Theravada Buddhism)

Bhanu Jayanti (Sikkim, India)

Blanche of Castile (Positivist; Saint)

Boun Khao Phansa begins (Buddhist Lent)

Clelia Barbieri (Christian; Saint)

Conrad Weiser (Episcopal Church (USA))

Eugenius of Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Feast of Kalimát (Words; Baha’i)

Geek Appreciation Day (Pastafarian)

Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor (a.k.a. Henry the Emperor; Christian; Saint)

Joel the Prophet (Christian; Saint)

Macarena Day (Church of the SubGenius)

Mordecai Ardon (Artology)

Mildrith of Thanet (Christian; Saint)

Mr. Screech (Muppetism)

Obon (a.k.a. Ulanbana, Festival of the Lanterns; Buddhist, Shinto)

Rosa Mystica (Christian; Saint)

Silas (Catholic Church; Saint)

Solstitium IX (Pagan)

Spot the Loony Day (Pastafarian)

Teresa of the Andes (Christian; Saint)

Turiaf (a.k.a. Turiave or Thivisiau; Christian; Saint)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Dismal Day (Unlucky or Evil Day; Medieval Europe; 13 of 24)

Egyptian Day (Unlucky Day; Middle Ages Europe) [13 of 24]

Fatal Day (Pagan) [14 of 24]

Tomobiki (友引 Japan) [Good luck all day, except at noon.]

Premieres

Breaking Away (Film; 1979)

Californy’er Bust (Disney Cartoon; 1945)

Country Mouse (WB MM Cartoon; 1935)

Dedicated To the One I Love, by The Shirelles (Song; 1959)

Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog, by Elvis Presley (Song; 1956)

Eighth Grade (Film; 2018)

Generation Kill (TV Series; 2008)

Ghost (Film; 1990)

A Hard Day’s Night, by The Beatles (US Album; 1964)

Hollywoodland sign (Dedicated; 1923)

Ice Age: Continental Drift (Animated Film; 2012)

Inception (Film; 2010)

The Last Starfighter (Film; 1984)

Legally Blonde (Film; 2001)

Microbe Hunters, by Paul de Kruif (Science Book; 1926)

The Muppets Take Manhattan (Film; 1984)

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by Ambrose Bierce (Short Story; 1890)

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, by Bob Dylan (Soundtrack Album; 1973)

Queen, by Queen (Album; 1973)

Skyscraper (Film; 2018)

The Spy Who Loved Me (James Bond Film; 1977) [#10]

Today’s Name Days

Anno, Heinrich, Kunigunde (Austria)

Emanuel, Ferdinand, Henrik (Croatia)

Markéta (Czech Republic)

Margrethe (Denmark)

Greta, Grete, Kreet, Kreeta, Mare, Maret, Mareta, Margareeta, Marge, Margit, Marit, Marita, Meeta, Reeda, Reet (Estonia)

Ilari, Joel, Lari (Finland)

Enzo, Eugène, Henri, Joël (France)

Heinrich, Kunigunde (Germany)

Iliofotos, Sarah (Greece)

Jenő (Hungary)

Enrico (Italy)

Alda, Margarita, Margrieta, Mariska, Pērle (Latvia)

Anakletas, Arvilas, Arvilė, Henrikas (Lithuania)

Melissa, Mia, Mildrid (Norway)

Ernest, Ernestyn, Eugeniusz, Irwin, Jakub, Justyna, Małgorzata, Radomiła (Poland)

Margita (Slovakia)

Enrique, Joel (Spain)

Joel, Judit (Sweden)

Ezra, Joel, Joelle, Mildred, Natalia, Natalie, Natasha, Nathalie, Nathan, Nathanael, Nathania, Nathaniel, Tasha (USA)

Henri, Nathalie, Nathaly (Universal)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 194 of 2024; 171 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 4 of week 28 of 2023

Celtic Tree Calendar: Tinne (Holly) [Day 4 of 28]

Chinese: Month 5 (Wu-Wu), Day 26 (Ren-Shen)

Chinese Year of the: Rabbit 4721 (until February 10, 2024)

Hebrew: 24 Tammuz 5783

Islamic: 24 Dhu al-Hijjah 1444

J Cal: 14 Lux; Sevenday [14 of 30]

Julian: 30 June 2023

Moon: 16%: Waning Crescent

Positivist: 26 Charlemagne (7th Month) [Blanche of Castile]

Runic Half Month: Feoh (Wealth) [Day 15 of 15]

Season: Summer (Day 23 of 94)

Zodiac: Cancer (Day 23 of 31)

[useless-catalanfacts]

Fine that the Francoist dictatorship authorities made the director of Sant Jordi choir pay for having sung an unauthorized Catalan song on April 23rd 1964. This fine is kept as a historical document in the archive of the University of Barcelona.

General Francisco Franco's fascist dictatorship of Spain (1939-1975) banned and persecuted the use of the Catalan language for many years, allowing it towards the end of the dictatorship only in certain settings and under strict supervision of the police and censorship authorities. The dictatorship had the objective of eliminating the Catalan language, culture, and identity, and making all Catalan people become Spanish people. Cultural elements of Catalan culture were forbidden, such as certain songs, dances, and celebrations of traditional holidays, and people were imprisoned, tortured, and even sentenced to death for defending the right to exist of the Catalan people. The same persecution was suffered by the other nationalities under Spanish rule (mostly Basques and Galicians).

The choir Coral Sant Jordi, named after Catalonia's patron saint (Saint George), was founded in 1947 by Oriol Martorell. Its objective was to sing choir music with a focus on traditional Catalan music. The choir toured around Catalonia singing these songs with a great vocal quality, and became a symbol of cultural resistance against the dictatorship's attempt of ethnocide.

In the 1960s, the dictatorship wanted to become a normalized part of Europe and the international community. The regime opened Spain's borders to survive as a fascist stronghold, and thanks to the help from the USA (who was promoting fascist governments around the world), fascist Spain was accepted in the UN, normalized its relations with many countries, and opened its borders to tourism. To look more acceptable, it did some reforms among which they allowed speaking the local languages (Catalan, Aranese Occitan, Basque, Galician, etc) in public in some acts, as long as the person who was going to do it applied for official permission and turned in everything they were going to say or, in the case of a concert, the track list of all the songs that they were going to sing and all their lyrics as well as if they were going to speak between songs. The censorship authorities could accept or deny this application, and very often they censored parts of what was going to be said or sung, or whole songs.

On April 23rd 1964, the choir Sant Jordi sang in a fundraising event to raise money for a church. Like all Catholic churches, this church is under the title of a saint, virgin, or similar. In this case, the church is dedicated to Saint George, who their choir is also named after. In the concert, the choir sang an extra song that wasn't on the tracklist that they had submitted to be approved by the censorship authorities. This extra song was the "Goigs de Sant Jordi" (goigs are a traditional Catalan music genre of songs dedicated to exalting a particular saint or Virgin). This is a goigs song composed in the year 1885 in the Catalan language, which explains the saint's story and asks: "patron of knighthood, watch over my homeland and for its rebirth".

For having sung this, the Spanish government made Oriol Martorell (conductor of the choir) pay a fine of 10,000 pesetas, a huge amount at the time. Oriol appealed the resolution many times, even reaching the Supreme Court, but as was expected they did not repeal it, and he (with support from the rest of the choir) had to pay the fine.

Under the cut I've included the whole lyrics of the unauthorized song translated to English.

This is a print of goigs song they sang. This one is from an act in 1990, kept in the archive of Jaume I University. These are the translated lyrics:

GOIGS OF SAINT GEORGE. Patron saint of Catalonia.

Since the heaven entrusted you the most excellent mission: Patron of knighthood, watch over my homeland and for its rebirth.

Art, history, and legend have embroidered your mantle and have given you the best offering with the quill and the chisel. From the north to the south, from the east to the west: Patron...

You were born in Cappadocia of a palatial lineage, honoured patrician, you were Diocletian’s knight; your illustrious hierarchy gave you great demeanour: Patron...

You follow the blessed law of crucified Jesus, which was persecuted in Rome as the most depraved crime. You, with all the courage, resolutely embrace it: Patron...

Like a willow, if it’s stripped off its branches, it grows more branches and lushness, new Christians aren’t missing either when there’s more rigour for them. One day you spoke in the council and they destined you to torment: Patron…

You were tied to a wheel, your flesh teared out; when they left you for dead, they found you well healed. Such a miracle soon converted many people: Patron…

The emperor, then, wants to convince you, sweetly, and gives you seductive offers, but he doesn’t get anything from you. Refusing idolatry you defect the Caesar: Patron…

He doesn’t receive the affront freely and immediately orders you be beheaded; seven gold-winged angels take you up to heaven. Jesus, Joseph, and Mary welcome you smiling: Patron…

Up in heaven they proclaim you patron of the good knights; the sword they gave you there is Lucifer’s fright. On your Shield was printed the red cross on a silver field: Patron…

There was a gentle princess, stealer of love, and a ferocious monster wants to capture her, traitor; but you, with bravery, turn up to attack: Patron…

On the first lance stroke the monster falls down pierced; the virgin, already released, takes him away well tied up; all the town, with happiness, branches and palms beat: Patron…

Clovis’s wife builds sumptuous temples for you, and you have pious altars from Calp to the Pyrenees; Sir Ramir also erected for you a monument near Viana: Patron…

You help, near Girona, the undefeated emperor, and you give back the golden sceptre to Borrell of Barcelona; your shining image used to appear to king Peter: Patron…

When April comes and is crowned with the roses from the gardens, Barcelona celebrates you more than all the paladins. People of all hierarchies sings to you devoutly: Patron…

Look over the loved homeland, for its freedom, for the well-rooted faith, for the holy brotherhood. And if the great day came to save it in combat: Patron of knighthood, watch over my homeland and for its rebirth.

Since the heaven entrusted you to free the good believer: Patron of knighthood, watch over my homeland and for its rebirth.

[beardedmrbean]

A teenage pupil stabbed to death a teacher in the middle of a lesson at a school in southwest France on Wednesday, the regional prosecutor said.

The teacher of Spanish, 52, was teaching a class at the school in the seaside town of Saint-Jean-de-Luz when the 16-year-old attacked her with a knife, the prosecutor said.

“I didn’t see him get up but I saw him in front of the teacher,” fellow classmate Ines, 16, told reporters.

“He was very calm. He got closer to her and plunged a big knife into her chest without saying anything,” she added.

The teacher was given emergency aid at the scene, but Bayonne prosecutor Jerome Bourrier told AFP she died of her wounds.

The pupil was arrested and a murder investigation has been opened, he added.

A source close to the case said that, by the time the police arrived on the scene at around 9:50 am, the attacker had been disarmed and other pupils isolated.

He had been carrying a blade some 10 centimetres (almost 4 inches) long, they added.

The pupil seemed to have acted in a “moment of madness”, rather than on any “terrorist motive” or “resentment”, the source said.

Ines, who witnessed the attack, said she did not really know the teenager.

“We’re just in Spanish class together. But there had never been a problem between him and the teacher in class,” she said.

‘Conscientious’ teacher

The school, Saint-Thomas d’Aquin, is a private and Catholic-based establishment close to the centre of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, which in summer is one of France’s best loved resorts on the sandy Basque country coast.

The teacher had long taught at the school and was “conscientious”, a representative from the FEP-CFDT teachers’ union said.

By lunchtime, pupils had started to leave the premises after being confined to their classrooms for around two hours after the incident.

Anxious parents were waiting for them but only those parents of the class where the stabbing happened were allowed to enter the school, an AFP reporter said.

France’s Education Minister Pap Ndiaye said he was “extremely upset” by the death of the teacher.

All schools would observe a minute of silence for her on Thursday afternoon at 3:00 pm, he told the press outside the school.

Government spokesman Olivier Veran said he could “barely imagine the trauma that this represents at a local level and more generally on a national scale”.

The BFM television channel said that the attacker had locked the classroom door and stabbed the teacher in the chest.

The channel quoted a source as saying that the boy then told another teacher that a “voice” had told him to carry out the action.

The investigation was to seek to determine his psychological state and motives.

No details have been released concerning his background.

‘Could have happened to me’

Such attacks at schools are generally rare in France but there have been growing concerns about the security of teachers.

In the past 40 years, there have been fewer than a dozen deadly attacks in schools.

The attack in Saint-Jean-de-Luz is the first killing of a teacher in France since the October 2020 beheading of Samuel Paty outside Paris by an Islamist radical.

In July 2014, a 34-year-old teacher was stabbed to death in the southern town of Albi by the mother of a pupil. The perpetrator was later found to be legally irresponsible.

A Jewish school was targeted in the attacks carried out by Islamist gunman Mohamed Merah around Toulouse in 2012, with a teacher and three pupils shot dead.

In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Maha Bargueche, a mathematics teacher from the Paris region who was holidaying in the area, placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the school “as a sign of support”.

“I’m very sad, it could have happened to me, it can happen to any teacher. That’s why I came immediately,” she said.