II.

Characteristics

Basque ancient laws (called fors in France and fueros in Spain), which emphasized a respect for individual liberty, traditionally governed every area of their lives and were strictly adhered to. These laws were maintained by democratically elected assemblies (juntas), and great care was taken to secure honesty at the polls. It was not uncommon for a fisherman to preside over meetings in which Spanish noblemen were seated.

The law of primogeniture, of great importance to the Basque people, gave permanence to the family structure. The importance of the family is reflected to some extent in the appearance of most Basque homesteads, which differ markedly from the one-storey house of the average French and Spanish farmer. The typical Basque house has a garden, vineyard, pasture, and woodland.

The Basques are devout Roman Catholics and have fought to prevent domination of their religious institutions by French and Spanish ecclesiastical authorities. Notable religious figures of Basque origin include St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Order of the Jesuits, and the Jesuit missionary St Francis Xavier. The Basques have retained many religious customs dating from medieval times. Among the most colourful are the Procession of the Crosses and the Corpus Christi processions. The latter are especially interesting because of the national dances performed. Dancing and games play an important part in the lives of the Basque people, who are especially fond of a strenuous game known as jai alai.

Many Basques have emigrated to the Americas. It is estimated that about 250,000 Basques live in South America and about 50,000 live in the United States.