Lekeitio (; es, Lequeitio) is a town and

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

located in the province of

Biscay Biscay (; eu, Bizkaia ; es, Vizcaya ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lordship of Biscay, lying on the south shore of the eponymous bay. The capital and largest city is Bilbao. ...

, in the

Spanish Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries **Spanish cuisine Other places * Spanish, Ontario, Can ...

Autonomous Community eu, autonomia erkidegoa ca, comunitat autònoma gl, comunidade autónoma oc, comunautat autonòma an, comunidat autonoma ast, comunidá autónoma , alt_name = , map = , category = Autonomous administra ...

of Basque Country, northeast from

Bilbao ) , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = 275 px , map_caption = Interactive map outlining Bilbao , pushpin_map = Spain Basque Country#Spain#Europe , pushpin_map_caption ...

. The municipality has 7,307 inhabitants (2019) and is one of the most important fishing ports of the Basque coast. Tourism has an important role during the summer seasons, when the town is a resort with one beach called ''Isunza'' and the nearby ''Carraspio'' beach in the town of

Mendexa Mendexa is a town and municipality located in the province of Biscay, in the autonomous community of Basque Country, northern Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , ...

. The most important monument is the church of ''Santa María'', a

gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its nam ...

from the 15th century. Lekeitio is also the birthplace of

Resurrección María de Azkue Resurrección María de Azkue (5 August 1864 – 9 November 1951) was an influential Basque priest, musician, poet, writer, sailor and academic.Etxegoien, J. ''Orhipean, Gure Herria ezagutzen'' Xamar: 1996 He made several major contributions t ...

, one of the most important Basque scholars of the 19th century.

Festivals

San Pedroak

The celebration of San Pedro takes place from 29 June, saints day, to 1 July. It begins with a mass in honor of the saint and a procession with his image. The mass is celebrated in the church of Santa Maria, and from there the procession starts to walk the streets of the town.

San Antolinak

The festivities are in honor of the patron of the town, San Antolin, and are celebrated from 1 to 8 September. One of the most popular parts of the festival is the goose pulling event. This is held on 5 September, the aim being to hold on for as long as possible to a goose that is hanging from a rope that crosses the harbor from one dock to the other. The rope has one side fixed and on the other side there is a group of men pulling the rope to raise and lower it. In the middle of the rope there is a goose drenched in oil (in previous times the bird was alive). There are a lot of boats that take part and all of them have to go, in the order assigned through a random lottery in the morning, to the place the goose is and one participant from each boat has to grab the goose by the neck as strongly as possible. Once the boat has advanced to the front, the men at the end of the rope start pulling it, lifting the goose with the member holding it. Once the participants reach the top, the men let him drop from there, before rapidly pulling him up again. They continue like that until the participant lets the goose go or until the neck of the goose breaks. The one who makes most elevations wins the competition. This day has been documented since the 5th century and it is said that its origins are older. This act has been celebrated since 1877. The goose pulling event was also played on dry land, (and today is still held in Markina-Xemein). Several changes have taken place in this festival because in the past all the boats were sailed by 13 sailors. Only sailors were allowed to participate and there were strict regulations governing the speed and size of the boat, which had to be manned by 12 oarsmen and the captain. If there was any doubt about the winner they arranged a race that went to the island near Lekeitio. The festival is controversial, especially among animal rights activists, who have called for it to be stopped. During the festival people wear denim work clothes, often combined with a white shirt.

Cave art

A 15 m-long panel of etchings was discovered in the

Armintxe Cave Armintxe Cave in Lekeitio (Spain) is an important Paleolithic rock art site, estimated to date from between 12,000 and 14,500 years ago. Location Armintxe Cave is situated in the Lekeitio municipality of the Biscay province, in the Basque Coun ...

in 2016. Two of the etchings were of lions - the first seen in Basque Country. The art dates from 12,000 to 14,500 years ago.

Notable people from Lekeitio

(1864–1951): Priest, writer, linguist and culture promoter. One of the creators of

Euskaltzaindia Euskaltzaindia (; often translated Royal Academy of the Basque Language) is the official academic language regulatory institution which watches over the Basque language. It conducts research, seeks to protect the language, and establishes stand ...

and the first Euskaltzailburu, or head of Euskaltzaindia. * Santiago Brouard (1919–1984): Doctor and politician, member of

Herri Batasuna Herri Batasuna (; en, Popular Unity; HB) was a far-left Basque nationalist coalition in Spain. It was founded in 1978 and defined itself as abertzale, left-wing, socialist, and supported the independence of the Greater Basque Country. It was r ...

. Member of the Spanish senate and deputy mayor of Bilbao. * Buenaventura Zapirain (1873–1937): Composer and organist. * Eusebio Erkiaga (1912–1993): Writer. * Miren Agur Meabe (1962): Writer. * Josu Urrutia (1968): Former footballer and

Athletic Bilbao Athletic Club ( eu, Bilboko Athletic Kluba; es, Athletic Club de Bilbao), commonly known as Athletic Bilbao or just Athletic, is a professional football club based in the city of Bilbao in the Basque Country of Spain. They are known as ''Los L ...

's former president.

External links

LEKEITIO in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa)

Basilic of Lekeitio
and als
Assumption of Saint Mary
* ttp://www.lekitxo.info Lekitxo Interneten. Web site information of Lekeitio

References

{{authority control Municipalities in Biscay Fishing communities Populated coastal places in Spain