Hartzaro Festival

The Time of the Bear: Between Tradition and Creation

The Hartzaro Festival draws its roots from Basque rural traditions linked to carnival and the awakening of nature at the end of winter. The word Hartzaro literally means 'the time of the bear' — the bear symbolizing the transition from winter to spring, the return of light, and the rebirth of vital energy. Born in the 1990s from the carnival practices of Ustaritz, the festival has developed a unique identity by fostering a dialogue between ancestral rites and contemporary creation.

The Kaskarotak and the Zanpantzar

The Basque carnival (Ihauteriak) has marked the end of winter and the arrival of spring for centuries through symbolic rituals. The Kaskarotak — costumed groups who go from house to house and public places with songs and music in search of symbolic gifts — are one of the most emblematic moments of the festival. The Kaskarotak's door-to-door visits on Sunday mornings, starting at 8 am, are a community ritual that perpetuates the social bond among the inhabitants of Ustaritz. The Zanpantzar, a symbolic character burned on Mardi Gras, traditionally concludes the carnival festivities by erasing the traces of winter.

A Festival of Contemporary Creation

With over 250 artists gathered at each edition, the Hartzaro Festival does not just reproduce ancient rites: it reinterprets and enriches them through original creations. The program features concerts under a marquee, txalaparta (Basque percussion) performances, traditional dances such as the bear dance (Aker dantza), the Maia, the Zirtzilak, and contemporary performances that question the place of these traditions in today's world. The festival thus creates a fruitful dialogue between tradition and modernity, attracting an intergenerational audience.

Ustaritz, Cradle of Hartzaro

Ustaritz, a commune in the Labourd region of the Nive valley located 12 km from Bayonne, is the natural birthplace of the Hartzaro Festival. A former capital of Labourd, Ustaritz preserves remarkable architectural heritage and a dynamic associative life. The festival is part of this tradition of cultural vitality, mobilizing the local community around an event that now resonates far beyond the borders of the Basque Country. The association Ur Begi manages the festival and ensures the transmission of these traditions to new generations.