In ancient times, romerías brought together a wide variety of people, reflecting the uniqueness and diversity of each individual. This reminds us of the complexity of evolution, where multiple variables coexist, as in the case of viruses. In this context, according to the reader's mother's stories, there were also fighting enthusiasts at the romerías who would stand in the middle and exclaim: “there's one!”, thus seeking an opponent who also wished to fight.
This narrative transports us to the times when Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia were subordinate to Castile, from the 12th century onwards. The Goths of that era were warriors, and it is believed that the word “guda” (war in Basque) comes from “Goth”, just as “borroka” (fight) comes from the English “war”. This could have significantly influenced ancient Basque culture, as the reader's mother referred to these fighting enthusiasts as “donkeys”.
“"My mother told me they were donkeys. That's how the image we have of romerías is completed. Together. My parents' generation is the last of our old culture for me, and we must ask our elders so that the memory of our town's customs is not lost."
According to the reader, his parents' generation is the last of the ancient Basque culture, and therefore it is essential to ask the elders so that the memory of the town's traditions is not lost. With the arrival of globalization, it would be a great pity to forget this ancestral culture. Although language is fundamental, other customs such as romerías also hold great value in maintaining Basque identity.
