Antzar Eguna, the Day of the Geese in Lekeitio

Antzar Eguna — the Day of the Geese — is one of the most distinctive and widely known celebrations in Euskadi. With over 300 years of history, it takes place on 5 September in the port of Lekeitio as part of the San Antolines patronal festivities. The cuadrillas — groups of friends — are the social heart of the day: thousands of Lekeitio locals dress in the traditional blue mahón blouse and the fisherman's checked handkerchief to mark the start of the celebration.

The central ritual sees young men board small boats and, one by one, launch themselves into the water grabbing the goose — which may be rubber or dead — by the neck, while a group on shore pulls a rope that raises and lowers the animal in an attempt to sever its head. The interplay between the participant in the water and the group on land is the spectacle that draws thousands of onlookers.

The day is rounded out with music and street performances that accompany the festivities throughout.