Fêtes de Bayonne
Encyclopedia
The fêtes de Bayonne is a series of festivals in the Northern Basque Country
in the town
of Bayonne
, France
. The festivals last 5 days and always start the Wednesday before the first Sunday of August. They are the largest festivals in France. In the eighties, participants started to dress in white
with a red
scarf
and a red belt
after the colors of the city of Pamplona
. Some rare purists prefer to wear blue and white, colors of the city of Bayonne
.
The festivals include music
al and street performances, traditional dances, parades, and fireworks.
Origin:
The first "Fêtes de Bayonne" called "The big summer festival" took place on July 13th, 1932. It was instigated by a group of friends belonging to the Aviron Bayonnais rugby team.
They wanted to create in Bayonne, celebrations similar to those of San Fermin
in Pamplona
, Spain
(famous for their Running of the Bulls).
Northern Basque Country
The French Basque Country or Northern Basque Country situated within the western part of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques constitutes the north-eastern part of the Basque Country....
in the town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
of Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The festivals last 5 days and always start the Wednesday before the first Sunday of August. They are the largest festivals in France. In the eighties, participants started to dress in white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
with a red
Red
Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...
scarf
Scarf
A scarf is a piece of fabric worn around the neck, or near the head or around the waist for warmth, cleanliness, fashion or for religious reasons. They can come in a variety of different colours.-History:...
and a red belt
Belt (clothing)
A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. A belt supports trousers or other articles of clothing.-History:...
after the colors of the city of Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
. Some rare purists prefer to wear blue and white, colors of the city of Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
.
The festivals include music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al and street performances, traditional dances, parades, and fireworks.
Origin:
The first "Fêtes de Bayonne" called "The big summer festival" took place on July 13th, 1932. It was instigated by a group of friends belonging to the Aviron Bayonnais rugby team.
They wanted to create in Bayonne, celebrations similar to those of San Fermin
San Fermín
The festival of San Fermín in the city of Pamplona , is a deeply rooted celebration held annually from 12:00, 6 July, when the opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo, to midnight 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mí...
in Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(famous for their Running of the Bulls).