Biriatou

Biriatou is a common French, located in the department of the Yrénées-Atlantiques and the area Aquitaine.

Its Basque name is Biriatu .

Geography

Biriatou is located at the foot of the the Western Pyrenees ( Choldokogagna ) and is crossed by the GR. 10. On its communal territory, the old highway customs stations of the A63 are which, once crossed the Bidassoa, is connected with the Spanish Autoroute AP-8. This crossroads remains a place where impressive stoppers are formed.

Localities and variations

Communes bordering

Hendaye in north
Urrugne in the east
the Spain in the west (Irun) and in the south (Bera/Vera de Bidasoa)

History

Administration

Intercommunality

The common one belongs to the Basque Eurocité Bayonne - San Sebastian.

Demography

Culture and inheritance

Religious heritage

Civil inheritance

Play of goose

Even if the name resembles curiously that of our childhood, this play of goose, antzara jokoa in Basque, does not have anything the traditional play of plate for children.

This play of Basque tradition proceeds in particular each year during the festivals of the village of Biriatou.

The rules of the game are simple:

In front of a public expert, several young people with horse, crossing a gantry under which a goose at the end of a cord is suspended, must tear off the neck of the animal. The first participant, the king, has a saber. The following players must tear off the neck with naked hand.

Even if in time, this play was practiced with an alive goose, it is authorized today only if the animal is killed before. The origin of this play is rather fuzzy. One thinks nevertheless that it acted, at the origin, of an initiatory rite to mark the passage of the children at the adulthood.

Though less and less practiced nowadays in the Basque Country, such tournaments are always organized with Sare, Souraide, Olhette, Ainhoa and Ahetze. There exists also an alternative of the play of goose on other side of the Spanish border during which the participants must tear off the neck of a cock for their 18 years.

Famous characters

Twinnings

Common of the Yrénées-Atlantiques

External bonds

Site of the Tourist bureau of Biriatou

Site of the town hall of Biriatou

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