This type of wassail stanzas is popular in Euskal Herria, mainly in the Southern Basque Country. In Iparralde they might have been known in the past but have practically been lost.

As often happens, the ritual takes place on the eve of the saint, 4 February in this case.

The versing used in the Saint Agatha almsgiving rounds follows the structure of traditional old rhyming stanzas. The soloist sings a stanza and the group repeats after him.

This first model of Saint Agatha’s eve song recounts the life and death of the saint. Here we present the lyrics and music widely heard in different localities of Bizkaia.

As regards the language, Gipuzkoan and Bizkaian varieties are frequently mixed, because the verses were usually learned and passed on.

Santa Ageda
Bizkaia