Bilbao

When Marijaia arrives

At the beginning of Bilbao’s Aste Nagusia festivities, Marijaia appears with her arms raised. The figure has a song to announce her arrival: “Badator Marijaia”, whose Basque title means “Marijaia is coming”. Its words welcome the character who represents the city’s festival.

Writer Edorta Jiménez supplied the lyrics and Bilbao musician Kepa Junkera composed the music. The song became the official festival song in 1997. Junkera plays the trikitixa, the Basque diatonic accordion, an instrument at the centre of his musical work.

The festival lasts nine days. At its close Marijaia is burned as part of the farewell; the next celebration begins again with her arrival and the song written for it.