Myths and legends are so deep-rooted here that even the foundation of the Lordship of Biscay is steeped in mystery. According to the chronicles, fleeing from an unwanted arranged marriage, the daughter of a Scottish king arrived at the coast of Mundaka, in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, on a ship. There she had a child–apparently from her relationship with Sugaar the Serpent–who fought first against the troops that invaded Biscay and later defeated their enemies on the battlefield in what now is Arrigorriaga. Legend has it that the town received its name, translated as ‘place of red stones’, due to the large amount of blood that flowed among the rocks when the battle was over.

After the victory, the Biscayan people that were gathered there proclaimed this pale-skinned blond man, Jaun Zuria–White Lord–, the first of the Lords of Biscay. From there on, he assumed the responsibility to be accountable to their people in the Assemblies held under the Tree of Gernika.

Before that even happened, myths could be found in every corner of Biscay. To start with, there is Mari, the Lady of Anboto. This pre-Christian goddess has been present in the daily existence of the region since she is the personification of Mother Earth and represents the four basic natural elements: Earth, Air, Water and Fire. She controls nature and climate, and the crops and the wellbeing of the local livestock depends on her, reason why shepherds and farmers used to make offerings to her. Mari can be seen in every mountain of Biscay taking the sunshine or the rain from one valley to another.

On occasions, Mari is depicted as a beautiful blonde woman in green clothes, while on others she has been portrayed as a hybrid creature: half-woman, half-tree, having goat legs, or the talons of a bird of prey. She lives in several caves located in different mountains, although her usual home is Mariren Kobia cave (at an altitude of 1,150 metres) under the summit of Mount Anboto in Urkiola Natural Park, near the manorial town of Durango. She has sometimes been spotted near caves such as Supelegor in Gorbeia Natural Park, or Baltzola in Dima. She is said to fly there in a chariot of fire to meet her companion Sugaar the Serpent, with whom she has two children, Atarrabi and Mikelats, the good and the evil.

Lamias are also well-known creatures in the Biscayan tradition. They live near streams, ponds and springs, which may explain why these young women–who like running golden combs through their hair–have duck-like legs. It is not uncommon, though, to see lamias with goat legs or fish’s tails, like the one that dwells in the spectacular Cape Ogoño, near Elantxobe. They are amiable beings, but under no circumstances should you annoy or upset them as their mood is likely to darken if you do so.

If you do them a favour, lamias are exceedingly generous. An example of this is the case of the midwife of Lamiako, in Leioa. For having helped a lamia give birth, she received a jar full of lard that miraculously transformed into silver coins as soon as she got home. Yet they are equally severe on those who disobey them. That’s what happened in Orozko, when a young woman who lived in a caserío–a typical local farmhouse–came across the lamias at the summit of Leziaga. They gave her a golden jewel on the condition that she never came back, but she returned and the lamias, angry at her disobedience, put a terrible curse on her farm. Even today, people believe the curse is still active.

The deepest part of the woods is the home of Basajaun–‘Lord of the Forest’ in Basque–, a furry giant that takes good care of his domains as he looks after the flocks of sheep in them, always being respected. Basajaun is master of the science of iron and all agricultural arts. His secret knowledge was made available to the humans that lived in Biscay thanks to a crafty boy named Martiniko, who tricked the giant of the forest with his slyness to get the first seeds, make the first saw, and get other resourceful information. In Kortezubi, where we can find Santimamiñe cave and its rock paintings, Martiniko got Basajaun to tell him how to join two pieces of iron together.

It seems there are ruder giants, such as Ttarttalo, who has only one eye on his forehead and hates people. But he is an exception since most of the giants that have inhabited the mountains and valleys of Biscay from way before Christianity are friendly gentiles, and they have always enjoyed a good relationship with humans.

In Biscay, there are many constructions whose existence can only be explained if these creatures, as tall as trees, took part in their creation. We have, for instance, the cave of the gentiles, Jentilkoba in Ispaster; the imposing stone bridge Jentilzubi also erected by gentiles, near the Baltzola cave in Dima; and even a bowling alley, Jentilen Bolatokia, can be visited in Mañaria.

It is Olentzero, however, who has really gained the admiration of the people in Biscay by bringing joy and presents to every home in the region each Christmas. This good-natured coal miner, with the invaluable help of his beloved donkey Napo, goes down his mountain on Christmas’ Day to give presents to those who have been good during the year. As the famous carol goes, the story of Olentzero began when, feeling that Christ had been born, he came down his mountain to tell humans the good news.

To know all the details about the story and the most popular figures in Basque mythology, you should go to Izenaduba Basoa in Mungia. Both at the oldest caserío of Biscay, built in 1510, and in the forest that surrounds it, the atmosphere is charged with magic all year round. Here, Olentzero is in the company of Galtzagorri, Mari Domingi, the Lady of Anboto, Lamia, Sorgina, Ttarttalo, Herensuge, and Basajaun among others, inviting you to pay a visit to the heart of the Basque mythology.