Useless Basque Facts

Kaitxo! A collection of Basque Randomness. If middle-aged people chucking 100 kilo rocks around makes you proud, if every time you take a swig of american apple cider you shudder because it's so damn flat, if the sight of a green-red-and-white Union Jack fills you with pride, this is the blog for you! Run by a donostiarra, just a heads up. None of the images are mine, unless stated otherwise.

[rannulfr]

The most important thing I've ever been a part of as a historian was the discovery of a thumbprint pressed into pottery.

The archeologist discovered parts of a hand in the Basque mountains, deformed by arthritis. The thumbprint in the pottery matched perfectly the angle at which this person would have had to press their hand into the clay.

So we had the pottery, and the potter. Which is rare enough, but these discoveries took place 400km apart, with the potter near MT. Vascos and the potter in Toulouse.

Better than that though, it is very rare to find evidence of Basque pottery in the period before the 16th century, it was generally too fragile for their lifestyle and they tended to use carved wood.

My part was to identify the markings on the pottery which I found were very common to the Duchy of Aquitaine in the 12th century. This was later corroborated by pigment analysis.

So we had the pot, the potter, one of the earliest examples of Basque pottery and a pretty in depth story of this ugly little pot that someone bought from an old Basque woman then brought home and had decorated in the latest style.

All of it, my degree, my passion for history, the time I've put in... All of it came down to an arthritic old woman whose story I was lucky enough to be a tiny part of centuries after her death.

A human conversation I was part of across an otherwise impenetrable barrier.

The wars are fun, battlefields are interesting, reenacting in armor is a passion of mine. But none of it comes close to that thumb print. To that timeless conversation.

History is so much more than war.

[landscape-lunacy]

Basque Country, Spain - by Ana Rivero

[useless-basquefacts]

Hi, I wanted to as did you see along time ago there was a community of Basques in Nevada who supported Trump, if you know what is your opinion? I personally dislike Trump . This is the title "Trumpen jarraitzaile ugari, Nevadako euskal komunitatean"

I just googled them and have been laughing for the past five minutes.

Imagine being so ignorant, so absolutely anglicized that you vote for a blatant fascist, after everything Franco and his Fascist regime have done to oppress and hurt the basque people. Its both disgusting and insulting to see that, and I hope these people realize their own stupidity and the irony of them voting for Trump. I know there's a strong Basque presence in Nevada (U of Nevada, Reno has a Basque Studies program, fun fact), and of course, Basque isn't synonymous with being a liberal or being left-wing, but I find it both saddening and hilarious that people who in the past have been oppressed for simply existing are voting for a man who hold suspiciously similar ideals than the regime who oppressed them.

I don't like to get too into politics on this blog, but I will say this: Trump is disastrous to the United States, especially to its minorities. His immigration policies are inhumane, he’s a disaster of a man, and I guarantee you he has ego and narcissism problems. As someone who’s parents grew up under Franco, he scares me.

I’m not willing to “debate” my opinions with people on anon because my opinions are based on facts and common sense, so don’t try anything.

[useless-basquefacts]

Would Tximeleta be a beautiful name for a baby girl ?

Personally, I think so! It’s the basque word for “butterfly” (although I’m assuming you knew that already, anon). Depending on where you live, your child’s teachers/other parents might have a hard time pronouncing or spelling it, but that’s their issue, not you or your child’s. 

[goazen]

Spring vocabulary in Basque

nouns

spring - udaberri

march - martxo

april - apiril

may - maiatz

bird - txori

butterfly - tximeleta

dragonfly - burruntzi, sorgin-orratz

grass - belar

plant - landare

tree - zuhaitz

flower - lore

hydrangea - hortentsia

poppy - mitxoleta

rainbow - ortzadar, ostadar

rain - euri

sun - eguzki

cloud - hodei, laino

weather - eguraldi

adjectives

warm - epel

windy - haizetsu

cloudy - hodeitsu, lainotsu

sunny - eguzkitsu

rainy - euritsu

green - berde, orlegi

blue - urdin

verbs

to plant - landatu

to water - ureztatu

to rain - euria (ari) izan, euria egin

to bloom - loratu

to grow - hazi

to fly - hegan egin

sentences

the tree has grown - zuhaitza hazi egin da

it rains a lot here - hemen euri asko egiten du

i’m going to bilbo in may - maiatzean bilbora joango naiz

the blue butterflies are flying - tximeleta urdinak hegan egiten ari dira

[useless-basquefacts]

K crees de Cataluña? Me encanta tu blog! Gracias

Gracias! Se que no cuelgo muchas cosas en este blog, pero igual me encanta interactuar con otra gente vasca/gente que le interesa el vasco.

Cataluña, ay,Cataluña. Por donde empezar. La gente me parece muy amable, y la comida esta ex-qui-si-ta. Es un lugar increiblemente diverso, y me encanta bailar sardanas, especialmente con grupos grandes. Los castellers tienen todo mi respeto y admiracion, especialmente los chicos que se suben al pico. Si no habeis visto los castellers, id al youtube y buscar videos. Es increible. Solo he estado en Barcelona, pero me encanto el ambiente y cuanto arte se puede encontrar por las calles.

A Cataluña le daria un 9,9. Lo unico que no me gusto fue que me robaron la cartera en Las Rablas (solo tenia 20 euros, y las tarjetas de credito las tenia en otro bolcillo, gracias a dios).

[myfymera-deactivated20210328]

[useless-basquefacts]

K crees de Cataluña? Me encanta tu blog! Gracias

Gracias! Se que no cuelgo muchas cosas en este blog, pero igual me encanta interactuar con otra gente vasca/gente que le interesa el vasco.

Cataluña, ay,Cataluña. Por donde empezar. La gente me parece muy amable, y la comida esta ex-qui-si-ta. Es un lugar increiblemente diverso, y me encanta bailar sardanas, especialmente con grupos grandes. Los castellers tienen todo mi respeto y admiracion, especialmente los chicos que se suben al pico. Si no habeis visto los castellers, id al youtube y buscar videos. Es increible. Solo he estado en Barcelona, pero me encanto el ambiente y cuanto arte se puede encontrar por las calles.

A Cataluña le daria un 9,9. Lo unico que no me gusto fue que me robaron la cartera en Las Rablas (solo tenia 20 euros, y las tarjetas de credito las tenia en otro bolcillo, gracias a dios).

[useless-basquefacts]

Basque Origin theory:

The Basques are the lost 13th tribe of Israel.

[clementive-deactivated20150318]

In Which Diversity Isn't a Myth

Ok. I’m tired of the typical vampire, werewolf and fairy.I’m also tired of the occidental-centrism in mythology. Hence, this list. 

I tried to included as many cultural variants as I could find and think of. (Unfortunately, I was restricted by language. Some Russian creatures looked very interesting but I don’t speak Russian…) Please, add creatures from your culture when reblogging (if not already present). It took me a while to gather all those sites but I know it could be more expansive. I intend on periodically editing this list. 

Of note: I did not include specific legendary creatures (Merlin, Pegasus, etc), gods/goddesses/deities and heroes.

Dragons

The Chinese Dragon

The Japanese Dragon

The Korean Dragon

The Vietnamese Dragon

The Greek Dragon

The Indian Dragon

The Polish Dragon

The Austrian Dragon

The British Dragon

The Ancient Dragon (Egypt, Babylon and Sumer)

The Spanish Basque Dragon

Of the Cockatrice (creature with the body of a dragon)

Alphabetical List of Dragons Across Myths (Great way to start)

Little creatures (without wings)

The Legend of the Leprechauns, The Leprechaun

Chanaque /Alux (the equivalent of leprechauns in Aztec/Mayan folklore)

Elves

Elves in Mythology and Fantasy

Elves in Germanic Mythology

Kabeiroi or Cabeiri (Dwarf-like minor gods in Greek mythology)

Norse Dwarves

The Myth of Loki and the Dwarves

Ten Types of Goblins

Goblins

Tengu: Japanese Goblins

Gnomes 

More on Gnomes

Pooka: an Irish phantom

Creatures with wings (except dragons)

Fairies

All sorts of Cultural Fairies

Fairies in Old French Mythology 

A Fairy List

Bendith Y Mamau (Welsh fairies)

Welsh Fairies

Peri (Persian fairies)

Yü Nü (Chinese fairies)

The Celtic Pixie

Angels in Judaism

Angels in Christianity

Hierarchy of Angels

Angels in Islam

Irish Sylph

Garuda (Bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist myths)

Bean Nighe (a Scottish fairy; the equivalent of a banshee in Celtic mythology)

Harpies

Spirited Creatures

Druids

Jinn (Genies in Arabic folklore)

Types of Djinns

Aisha Qandisha and Djinn in Moroccan Folklore

Oni (demons in Japanese folklore)

Nymphs

Spirits in Asturian Mythology

Valkyries

Lesovik

Boggarts: The British Poltergeist

Phantom black dogs (the Grim)

Demons in Babylonian and Assyrian Mythology (list)

Demons in the Americas (list)

European Demons (list)

Middle-East and Asia Demons (list)

Judeo-Christian Demons (list)

Nephilim, more on Nephilim

Mahaha (a demon in Inuit mythology)

Flying Head (a demon in Iroquois mythology)

Ghosts

Toyol (a dead baby ghost in Malay folklore)

Malay Ghosts

Yuki-onna (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

The Pontianak (a ghost in Malay mythology)

Funayurei (a ghost in Japanese folklore)

Zagaz (ghosts in Moroccan folklore)

Japanese Ghosts

Mexican Ghosts

Horse-like mythical creatures

Chinese Unicorns

Unicorns

The Kelpie (Could have also fitted in the sea creatures category)

The Centaur

The Female Centaur

Hippocamps (sea horses in Greek mythology)

Horse-like creatures (a list)

Karkadann, more on the Karkadann (a persian unicorn)

Ceffyl Dwfr (fairy-like water horse creatures in Cymric mythology)

Undead creatures

The Melanesian Vampire 

The Ewe Myth : Vampires

The Germanic Alp

The Indonesian Vampire

Asanbosam and Sasabonsam (Vampires from West Africa)

The Aswang: The Filipino Vampire

Folklore Vampires Versus Literary Vampires

Callicantzaros: The Greek Vampire

Vampires in Malaysia

Loogaroo/Socouyant: The Haitian Vampire

Incubi and Sucubi Across Cultures

Varacolaci: The Romanian Vampire

Brahmaparusha: The Indian Vampire

Genesis of the Word “Vampire”

The Ghoul in Middle East Mythology

Slavic Vampires

Vampires A-Z

The Medical Truth Behind the Vampire Myths

Zombies in Haitian Culture

Shape-shifters and half-human creatures (except mermaids) 

Satyrs (half-man, half-goat)

Sirens in Greek Mythology (half-woman and half-bird creatures)

The Original Werewolf in Greek Mythology

Werewolves Across Cultures

Werewolf Syndrome: A Medical Explanation to the Myth

Nagas Across Cultures

The Kumiho (half fox and half woman creatures)

The Sphinx

Criosphinx

Scorpion Men (warriors from Babylonian mythology)

Pooka: an Irish changelings

Domovoi (a shape-shifter in Russian folklore)

Aatxe (Basque mythology; red bull that can shift in a human)

Yech (Native American folklore)

Ijiraat (shapeshifters in Inuit mythology)

Sea creatures

Selkies (Norse mermaids)

Mermaids in many cultures

More about mermaids

Mermen

The Kraken (a sea monster)

Nuckelavee (a Scottish elf who mainly lives in the sea)

Lamiak (sea nymphs in Basque mythology)

Bunyip (sea monster in Aboriginal mythology)

Apkallu/abgal (Sumerian mermen)

An assemblage of myths and legends on water and water creatures

Slavic Water Creatures

The Encantado (water spirits in Ancient Amazon River mythology)

Zin (water spirit in Nigerian folklore)

Qallupilluk (sea creatures in Inuit mythology)

Monsters That Don’t Fit in Any Other Category

Aigamuxa, more details on Aigamuxa

Amphisabaena

Abere

Bonnacon

Myrmidons (ant warriors)

Troll, More on Trolls

Golems 

Golems in Judaism

Giants: The Mystery and the Myth (50 min long documentary)

Inupasugjuk (giants in Inuit mythology)

Fomorians (an Irish divine race of giants)

The Minotaur

The Manticore, The Manticore and The Leucrouta

The Ogre

The Orthus (two-headed serpent-tailed dog)

The Windigo

The Windigo Psychosis

Rakshasa (humanoids in Hindu and Buddhist mythology)

Yakshas (warriors in Hindu mythology)

Taqriaqsuit (“Shadow people” in Inuit mythology)

Stick Indians

References on Folklore and Mythology Across the Globe

Creatures of Irish Folklore 

Folklore and Fairytales

An Overview of Persian Folklore

Filipino Folklore

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

Alaska Folklore

Spanish (Spain) Mythology

Mythical Archive

Mythology Dictionary

List of Medieval and Ancient Monsters

Native American Animals of Myth and Legends

Native American Myths

Bestiary of Ancient Greek Mythology

Mythology, Legend, Folklore and Ghosts

Angels and Demons

List of Sea Creatures

Yoruba Mythology

Ghosts Around the World, Ghosts From A to Z

Strange (Fantastic) Animals of Ancient Egypt

Egyptian Mythology

Creatures from West Africa

On the Legendary Creatures of Africa

Myths, Creatures and Folklore

References on writing a myth or mythical creatures

Writing a MYTHology in your novel?

How to Write a Myth

10 Steps to Creating Realistic Fantasy Creatures

Creating Fantasy Creatures or Alien Species

Legendary Creature Generator

Book Recommendations With Underrated Mythical Creatures

(I have stumbled upon web sites that believed some of these mythical creatures exist today… Especially dragons, in fact. I just had to share the love and scepticism.)

[saccharinesylph]

good

[kaijufluffs]

[flukedoesecology]

Ideas for the fantasy series~

[useless-basquefacts]

If you’re looking for some Basque mythological creatures...

[unofficial-estonia]

where did everyone go? I've noticed all the useless-country blogs have graudally disappeared or gone inactive. Makes me sad :(

Some of them only jumped on the train when they saw that these kinds of blogs were popular, those didn’t last. 

I guess lack of interest mostly…

[useless-malaysiafacts]

As much we hate to admit, its not like we jumped on the train, we ARE interested to spread out history to others.

But, just like me, we are very VERY busy with our lives, some taking exams, finishing uni/high school and etc.

We still have the interest to keep the blog running, but due to irl problems, our blogs have to be indefinite hiatus.

[useless-basquefacts]

^^^^ Yeah, basically. I’ve been swamped with exams, and mental health issues, and everything else. I’m trying to interact more and get a solid queue back up again, but it is really hard to run a blog by yourself with irl issues swarming you like Brits on a Spanish beach.

[biarritzsurfreport]

Children drumming for Tamborrada today in San Sebastian. #donostia #basque #basquecountry #green #street #drums #drum #kids #festival #green #old #history https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs3cuS5AQOn/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=116wjsazfsnhq

[beautiful-basque-country]

Fascist party Falange sprays the Euskal Etxea in Madrid

The Euskal Etxea of Madrid woke up yesterday with several graffiti made, allegedly, by the Young Section of the Spanish Falange (JFE in Spanish) and that read "ETA out", "JFE" and the emblem of the party, as well as a silhouette on the ground imitating a headshot corpse.

Euskal Etxeak - for those who ignore it - are like Basque unofficial embassies, where anyone - part of the diaspora or not - can learn about our culture & language via meetings, courses and leisure activities. Nothing political.

This is what the Spanish fascists feel towards us. It’s a hatred that can’t be controled.

Disgust, that’s what we feel.

[useless-basquefacts]

Just for clarification (I’ve gotten some questions on this), the “Fuera ETA” grafiti is not saying that all people who are ETArras should be kicked out, it’s insinuating that all Basque people are inherently part of ETA. That stereotype, that hatred, has caused so many problems for both Basques and their descendants. ETA was a terrorist group that killed hundreds of people for a flawed and fatalistic idea of nationalism. 

Basque =/= ETA.

[diogofalmeida]

Abandoned Lemóniz Nuclear Power Plant.

AGFA Vista 200.

Lemóniz, Basque Country.

July, 2016.

[jarrimimram]

Novembre à Donostia-San Sebastián …   (05)

[useless-basquefacts]

Snow in Donosti

Nieve en Donosti

Credit to Carlos Bengoa of Donosti City

[beautiful-basque-country]

Things we “learned” today while having breakfast in a bar

- Ñ has a Basque origin - the Spanish language was born in La Rioja - CH was the real spelling of TX, TZ, TS - RR existed in Basque “since the beginning” - González - and every surname ended in -EZ - has a Spanish origin - you can’t talk about francoism if you haven’t lived the dictatorship

[official-3rd-world]

“Dios es vasco”

[beautiful-basque-country]

[useless-basquefacts]

“ you can’t talk about francoism if you haven’t lived the dictatorship”