1. Living Passion in Balmaseda

Balmaseda, the first town founded in the province of Bizkaia, is famous for its intense and emotional Holy Week celebration. The Living Passion (Pasión Viviente) has been staged here since 1931 and involves hundreds of local volunteers. It’s not just a play—it’s a full-scale historical reenactment that turns the entire town into Jerusalem.

• When: Friday, April 18th.
• Times: The Trial of Jesus at 9:00 a.m. | The Via Crucis and Crucifixion at 8:00 p.m.
• Where: Throughout Balmaseda’s Old Town. Main scenes unfold near San Severino Square, the Old Bridge (Puente Viejo), and El Calvario.
• Good to know: The morning and evening events tell different parts of the story—watch both if you can. The entire town participates, so there’s an immersive, emotional atmosphere that’s hard to find elsewhere.

4. Solemn Processions in Bilbao (April 13–20)

Bilbao’s Holy Week is among the most elaborate in the Basque Country. Eleven different brotherhoods participate in around 15 processions, many of them in the heart of the Old Town (Casco Viejo). The atmosphere is hushed, emotional, and steeped in centuries-old tradition.

• Thursday, April 17th: Nazareno Procession at 8:00 p.m.
• Friday, April 18th: Procession of Silence at 10:00 p.m.
• Route: Begins at Santiago Cathedral and winds through the narrow streets around Plaza Nueva.
• What makes it special: The lighting, music, and iconic pasos (religious floats) are mesmerizing, especially in the quiet of night.
• Tip: Arrive early to grab a spot near the Cathedral or Plaza Unamuno for the best view.

5. Basque Fest in Bilbao (April 16–19)

For a lighter and more festive take on Easter, Basque Fest is a cultural festival that transforms Bilbao into a stage for Basque creativity. It’s perfect for families, food lovers, music fans, and anyone who wants to experience the culture in a fun and modern way.

• Main venues: El Arenal for food and sports; Azkuna Zentroa, Sala BBK, and Kafe Antzokia for concerts and workshops.
• Don’t miss:
  • Txoko Gourmet (El Arenal): Free cooking demos, local product tastings, and culinary activities (11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. & 4:30–8:00 p.m.).
  • Herri Kirolak (Traditional Basque sports): Axe cutting, stone lifting, and tug-of-war exhibitions at 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
  • Theatrical boat rides on the Nervión River from Pío Baroja dock—fun and educational.
  • Free live concerts featuring local and emerging Basque artists.
• Family-friendly: There are special zones for kids and plenty of street performers.

This is the schedule for Bilbao Basque FEST.

6. Nature Escapes: Urdaibai and San Juan de Gaztelugatxe

Not everything is about processions—Easter is also a great time to connect with the Basque Country’s stunning natural beauty. Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve is a paradise for walkers, birdwatchers, and sea lovers.

• Top hikes:

• • Oma Forest: A magical painted forest by artist Agustín Ibarrola, blending art and nature.
  • Mundaka viewpoints: Stunning panoramic walks over the river estuary and cliffs.

• San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: One of the most iconic sites in Euskadi. Although the entry for Easter is fully booked, the viewpoint trails nearby still offer incredible photo opportunities.
• Travel tip: Go early in the day to avoid crowds and enjoy the peace.

7. Basque Flavours: Pintxos, Cider

No visit to the Basque Country is complete without indulging in its world-famous gastronomy. Whether you’re a foodie or just a curious traveler, Easter is a great time to eat like a local.

• Where to go:
  • Pintxo tours in Bilbao’s Old Town, San Sebastián’s Parte Vieja, or Vitoria’s Virgen Blanca area.
  • Cider houses in Hernani or Astigarraga—join in the txotx ritual, where you catch cider straight from the barrel.
  • Wine tastings in Rioja Alavesa: Laguardia, Elciego, and Labastida are all home to charming family-run bodegas.
• Seasonal must-try: Torrijas (Spanish-style French toast) are a traditional Easter dessert you’ll find at most bakeries.

La entrada What to Do in the Basque Country During Easter 2025: Culture, Nature & Local Traditions se publicó primero en Basqvium.

The origin of the Easter: The Religious Bizkaia

Easter in the Basque Country comprises 5 days of festivity, the dates for easter go from Maundy Thursday, the good Friday, and it lasts until Easter Monday. During easter season, you can find many religious processions and festivities to commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ.

Probably the most famous one is the “Living Passion” in the medieval village of Balmaseda. In Balmaseda, the historical events that led to the crucifixion of Jesus are represented dramatically for two days. But people hold other famous functions all over the Basque Country, in villages like Arkotxa, Berango, or Durango.

How do people celebrate Easter in other small villages of the Basque Country?

Easter in Spain is a testament to the country’s rich tapestry of traditions, where each region, city, and even village celebrates in its own distinctive way. Among these, the villages of Arkotxa, Berango, and Durango in the Basque Country offer a fascinating glimpse into local customs that both preserve ancient rituals and breathe new life into the festive season.

Celebrating Easter in Arkotxa

Nestled in the Basque Country, Arkotxa may be small in size but it’s grand in its Easter celebrations. The village comes alive with a mix of religious devotion and communal joy. Traditional Basque dishes fill tables, while the streets resonate with the sounds of music and procession. A highlight is the «Procesión de los Santos,» where locals carry statues of saints through the streets, a practice that blends historical reverence with contemporary spirituality.

Easter Traditions in Berango

Berango, with its scenic beauty and rich historical roots, offers a unique backdrop for Easter festivities. This village retains a deeply personal approach to the Easter season, with community members actively participating in both spiritual and social activities. Central to Berango’s Easter celebration is the «Misa de Resurrección» (Resurrection Mass), a profound communal prayer service that reflects the villagers’ strong faith and unity.

Following the service, the town square becomes a hub of festivity, with traditional Basque music, dance, and, notably, a communal meal featuring the region’s seasonal produce and specialties. Unique to Berango is the «Eguzki Lore» festival, a symbolic welcoming of spring and renewal, woven into the Easter celebrations. This event showcases floral displays, local artisans, and musicians, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates both Easter and the arrival of spring.

Durango’s Easter Celebrations

Durango, known for its historical significance and vibrant cultural scene, takes a comprehensive approach to Easter. The town’s observances merge religious solemnity with cultural exhibitions, making it a dynamic place to experience during Holy Week.

A pivotal aspect of Durango’s Easter is the «Via Crucis Viviente,» a live reenactment of the Stations of the Cross, which draws participants and spectators from across the region. This powerful performance traverses through the town’s historic streets, creating a moving tableau of faith and tradition.

Durango celebrates Easter with a focus on food traditions. They offer a «Pintxo Pote» route for tapas and drinks. This allows locals and visitors to enjoy the experience together. A signature event is the Easter market, where artisans and farmers showcase the best of local crafts and produce, embodying Durango’s spirit of community and sustainability.

Bilbao Basque FEST Energizes Easter Week:

Setting aside the religious aspects of these festive days, Easter Week in Bilbao is brimming with activities for everyone to enjoy through Bilbao Basque FEST. The festival will unfold a comprehensive program featuring approximately 200 activities catering to all ages and tastes.

From March 27 to 31, 156 artists will perform in concerts, dances, monologues, and street performances.These include concerts, dances, monologues, and street performances. The event will also feature pilgrimages, traditional sports exhibitions, tastings, and workshops. These will showcase products from the region for the public to enjoy.

With its six usual themes: Gourmet, Culture, Musika, Market, Zinema, and Sport, this year’s festival revolves around two key elements—female talent and emerging bands. The festival has street processions, open-air dances, and theatrical routes led by hosts. There are also leisurely walks along the Ría with Mirentxu and Begotxu. These activities complement the classic offerings.

Bilbao Basque FEST is also enhancing its children’s programming. Doña Casilda Park will host daily circus workshops and theater sessions, while the Ensanche Building will be the stage for various magic shows. Young ones will also receive a special visit from the popular and entertaining Gargantua on the esplanade of the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

This is the schedule for Bilbao Basque FEST.

Conclusion

As spring breathes new life into the Basque Country, dressing its landscapes in vibrant colors and inviting the community to partake in a season of renewal, Easter emerges as a time of reflection, celebration, and unparalleled cultural immersion. Whether you’re drawn to the spiritual solemnity of traditional processions, the communal joy of open-air festivals, or the dynamic buzz of Bilbao’s city-wide extravaganza, there’s something in the Basque Country’s Easter celebrations for every traveler.

Don’t miss the chance to experience Easter in one of the most culturally rich regions of Spain.

Plan your visit to experience unique Basque festivities with Basqvium. Explore the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the Basque Country during your trip. From the quiet villages to the bustling streets of Bilbao, let the spirit of Easter and the warmth of Basque hospitality fill your spring with unforgettable memories.

Book your trip now and dive into the vibrant Easter celebrations of the Basque Country

La entrada What To Do This Easter in Bilbao: 2024 Edition se publicó primero en Basqvium.

Each year, the youth of a Zuberoa’s town take on the responsibility of preparing and bringing the maskaradak to other localities. It’s not an easy decision, as most are small villages, and nearly all the town’s youth must take on some task to face such a challenge. Experienced dancers, sweet-voiced singers, boisterous jesters ready for mockery and revelry, provocative theatrical performers skilled in declamation, and musicians are all important part of this basque celebration.

When are the Maskaradak?

In recent years, the maskaradak normally takes place from the second weekend of January until Easter Sunday. The maskarada participants arrive in their respective villages on Sunday morning, welcomed by a symbolic barricade. After dancing and singing, they have the right to enjoy the first appetizer. Barricades, dances, songs, sips, and bites repeat from neighborhood to neighborhood throughout the morning.

The Characters of Maskaradak

Masquerade’s participants form a colorful and noisy troupe. «The Reds» (gorriak) are great dancers. «The Blacks» (beltzak) are wild, provocative, and noisy.

«The Knife Sharpeners» (txorrotxak) sing in two voices, acting as presenters and chroniclers. The kauterak (gypsy tinsmiths) and buhameak (bohemian gypsies) use their irreverent eloquence to draw smiles and offer social critique.

The five aitzindariak, skilled in Zuberoa’s refined dance technique (zamaltzaina, txerreroa, kantinersa, gathuzaina, and entseinaria), demonstrate their excellent dancing abilities. Suletino dancers perform the dantza-jauziak (jumping dances) with measured steps, caressing the ground but defying gravity in barricades, gavotas, branles, and the glass dance (godalet-dantza). When executing steps like frijat or antritxat, they lift off the ground but don’t dance looking up at the sky. 

Like in most traditional dances of Western Europe, the Suletinos dance connected to the earth. While jumping, they ascend as high as possible but also exert force on the descent. The small flute called txirula, the ttun-ttun or psaltery, the drum, and the violin mark the points where the feet touch the ground.

2024 Maskaradak Calendar

The basque region celebrates the basque carnivals throughout the first quarter of the year according the official Cultural Agenda, the encounters will take place on the following dates:

• January 21, Sunday: Pagola
• January 27 and 28, Saturday and Sunday: Ezpeize
• February 3, Saturday: Maule-Lextarre
• February 4, Sunday: Iruri
• February 11, Sunday: Maule-Lextarre and Iruri
• February 17, Saturday: Gamere-Zihiga
• February 24, Saturday: Muskildi
• March 2, Saturday: Donaixti
• March 10, Sunday: Ligi-Atherei
• March 17, Sunday: Idauze
• March 23, Saturday: Aloze
• March 31, Sunday: Barkoxe
• April 7, Sunday: Larraine
• April 14, Sunday: Urdiñarbe
• April 21, Sunday: Lakarri-Altzai
• April 27, Saturday: Pagola

Find out about other activities of this and other seasons in Basqvium

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Santa Agueda: The Women Protector

Santa Águeda, also known as Águeda de Catania, and revered for her bravery and martyrdom, has become a symbol of strength and protection in Basque culture. Her story resonates deeply, especially among women, for her unwavering stand against oppression and her sacrifices for faith and dignity.

Furthermore, the eve of Santa Águeda is not just a night of music and tradition, but a powerful homage to the protector of women, embodying the collective prayer for safety, fertility, and the well-being of families. As groups sing and march through the streets, their rhythmic beats on the ground echo the community’s reverence and invocation of Santa Águeda’s blessings, making it a profoundly moving celebration of solidarity, courage, and cultural identity.

The Origin of the Tradition: Why do Basques celebrate «Santa Agueda»?

This tradition might have its roots in Basque mythology, with the clash of «makilas» being a «call to the earth», to fully awaken after the winter solstice. However, this celebration combines both pagan and Christian elements.

Moreover, the Sicilian virgin and martyr from the 3rd century, Santa Águeda, was sentenced to have her breasts cut off for rejecting the tyrant Quinciano. Since then, she has been the patron saint of women and fertility, a beacon of hope for many expectant mothers. Numerous powers are attributed to her: preventing fires and volcanic eruptions, protecting against evil spirits and livestock diseases, and enhancing agricultural production. Basque tradition also credits her with the ability to cure headaches and migraines, showcasing her as a figure of immense benevolence and protection.

What did «Santa Agueda» do?

Santa Águeda’s legacy is one of extraordinary courage and sacrifice. In the face of unimaginable torment, she stood firm in her faith and convictions, refusing to succumb to the demands of her oppressor. Her ordeal and the miraculous interventions attributed to her following her martyrdom have inspired countless believers. Her story is not merely a tale of suffering; it is a narrative of triumph over adversity. It embodies the virtues of resilience, faith, and the power of divine intervention. The veneration of Santa Águeda goes beyond remembering her as a martyr. It is a celebration of her enduring spirit and the protective mantle she extends over those who invoke her name.

A Beacon of Female Empowerment and Feminist Resilience

Following her steadfast refusal to yield to Quinciano’s advances, Santa Águeda was subjected to brutal punishment, ultimately leading to her death. Her martyrdom, particularly the barbaric act of having her breasts cut off, has since been emblematic of the extreme violence women have faced through the ages for asserting their autonomy and rejecting subjugation. In the years following her death, Santa Águeda’s story has transcended its origins to become a powerful feminist symbol.

Moreover, It resonates with the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence and the oppression of women, serving as a beacon of resistance and empowerment. Her unwavering spirit and sacrifice continue to inspire, not only those who seek her protection and intercession but also those who champion women’s rights and dignity across the world. Santa Águeda’s story is a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength inherent in women; making her an enduring figure of female empowerment and feminist ideals.

Don’t miss the Santa Águeda Pilgrimage 

Among the pilgrimages held in her honor, three stand out at the Sanctuary of Santa Águeda in Kastrexana (Barakaldo): the first on February 5th, another on the preceding Sunday, and the last on the following Sunday, attracting thousands. These gatherings are not just spiritual journeys; they are vibrant celebrations of community, faith, and Basque cultural heritage.

Discover More Basque Traditions alongside with Basqvium

Dive deeper into the heart of Basque traditions and join us to «Learn more about Basque traditions with Basqvium.» Experience the rich tapestry of history, faith, and culture that shapes the Basque Country. 

From the solemnity of Santa Águeda’s pilgrimage to the joyful celebration of her eve, Basqvium offers you a gateway to exploring and understanding the profound meanings behind these cherished traditions. 

Don’t let this opportunity pass—immerse yourself in unique cultural experiences alongside with Basqvium.

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Reggie Aspiras: «Tourists appreciate the fact that, in Euskadi, food is a religion»

The famous Filipino chef finds that tradition and innovation are combined in the Basque Country’s kitchen during his gastronomic trips.

Eight days in Basque Country with chef Reggie Aspiras is an amazing food and culture experience. This journey goes beyond the culinary realm, exploring the rich tapestry of Basque culture. Aspiras, a famous chef, creates these immersive experiences with her brand, Kitchens of the World, in partnership with Basqvium.

She planned a trip to Euskadi, which included all three areas. She planned a trip to Biarritz, which is known as ‘The Land of Endless Feast.’ According to Aspiras, every meal in Biarritz is a celebration. There is an abundance of delicious food, and each place has its own special dish.

Therefore, Reggie Aspiras speaks from firsthand experience. She first visited the Basque Country in 2017. In 2021, she had a virtual meeting with Chef Paul Ibarra from Bilbao’s Los Fueros restaurant, organized by Basqvium. This meeting inspired her to embark on the Kitchens of the World adventure.

Food tour in Bilbao

The tour is not just about savoring exceptional food but also delving into culinary techniques. Participants visit esteemed establishments like Los Fueros, Rioja, Don Manuel, and Serantes in Bilbao. The itinerary spans diverse experiences, including a visit to the underwater winery Crusoe Treasure, a stroll on the Hanging Bridge, a stop at the Uxarte cider house, and exploration of iconic sites like Torre Loizaga and the Asador Etxebarri.

This trip includes cultural highlights like honoring the Virgen de Begoña, enjoying pintxos, and experiencing the traditional txoko. The tour showcases the region’s famed wines, including txakoli and Rioja alavesa, offering a holistic immersion into Basque gastronomy.

Reggie Aspiras carefully considers every detail, creating a seamless blend of culinary delights and cultural exploration. From the culinary prowess of Asador Etxebarri to the vibrant shopping experiences in Getaria, the tour captures the multifacetic essence of the Basque Country’s gastronomic and cultural treasures. For those fortunate enough to partake in this culinary escapade, it promises to be an unforgettable and enriching journey.

Shrimp and casseroles

—Feeling overwhelmed at any point?

—Hahaha. Definitely, in the first two days. Exploring cultures through food is phenomenal. I love the food in Bilbao and the Basque Country. Also, I enjoyed the txuleta and slow-cooked dishes at Los Fueros. I also rediscovered Paul’s prawns and had a great meal at my favorite restaurant, Serantes. The cazuelitas at Rio-Oja were delicious too. What I like about this place is that it offers both traditional and innovative cuisine. There is something for everyone and you can learn a lot.

—In your tours, it’s not just about the food.

—They involve learning recipes from the masters. The people I bring along can take a piece of the Basque Country with them. Food holds memories.

—Why did you decide to come here?

—Because here, food is a religion, a way of life, and tourists appreciate that. You can combine top-notch experiences with tradition. I don’t just want Michelin-starred restaurants; I appreciate them, but I love eating the way my mother used to feed me. That’s what I seek when cooking traditional Filipino food. You need tradition to progress, to introduce more modern elements. It’s sad when a place’s culinary tradition dies. And in the Basque Country, that tradition exists. I love the essence, the nature, the landscape. And good food within its landscape.

—Is there a connection with Filipino cuisine, which you’ve worked on and written about so much?

—There’s a lot in common, recipes and dishes. It’s the same but different; each has its flavors. These are recipes that take time. We make tripe with everything, blood sausage, bacon, ham. We make squid in its ink. It’s the same, but with local ingredients. And well, I make tripe like my mother does. You can’t replicate my recipe exactly; each has its way, its specialty.

—There’s a connection between both places, even if it’s forgotten.

—There are strong ties, whether we speak Spanish or not. There’s a special affection.

—Do you encourage Basques to make the journey in reverse, towards the Philippines?

Yes, everything is there: similar culture, beaches, 7,000 islands, shared history, and we are friendly. We have food-centered celebrations like here… there must be a special connection.

Here you can find the original interview in which chef Reggie Aspiras tells her experience with Basqvium

La entrada The collaboration of Basqvium with the chef Reggie Aspiras se publicó primero en Basqvium.