Basque Current Religious beliefs and Past Cosmos

Today most of the Basque people are Roman Catholics. A main part of Basque is its Catholic culture, this Catholic culture arose from the great number of people in Basque that are Catholic. Today about 85% of the Basque population are Catholic. For many centuries in the past the Catholic Church helped in governing the Basque Country.


The Christianization of the Basque Country has been a debate for a period of time. Some say that Christianity was first introduced into the Basque Country between the 4th and 5th century, while others say that Christianity was first introduced into the Basque County between 12th and 13th century. Their is more evidence agreeing that Christianity was first introduced into the Basque County between the 4th and 5th century, not between the 12th and 13th century. Either way the Basque people were among the last people in Europe
to turn to christianity.

Before the Christianization of the Basque Country, the Basque people believed in many different mythological creatures, gods, and goddesses. The main goddess they focused on was Mari, she was married to god Sugaar. As a couple Mari and Sugaar were believed to hold ultimate ethical power, and the power of creation and destruction. In different legends, Mari was said that she might have sons or daughters, but nobody knew how many. The two most well-known were her two sons Atxular and Mikelatz. Local Legends connected Mari to the weather Legends connected Mari to the weather, there came many different beliefs, People said that when she and Maju travelled together hail would fall down, when she departed from her cave storms or droughts will come, and depending which cave she lived in at different times would determine dry or wet weather.

Other famous mythological creatures, gods, and goddesses:

Aatxe: or Etsai is a cave-dwelling evil spirit who takes on the form of a red bull, but as a shapeshifter, sometimes can take the shape of a man.

Atxular and Mikelatz: are the sons of Mari, among others.

Basajaun: is the wild man of the woods and his female version basandere.

Galtzagorriak: is a type of iratxoak.

Gaueko: is an evil character of the night.

Herensuge: is the name of a dragon who plays a role in a couple known legends.

Erge: is an evil spirit that takes mens lives.

Ilargi or Ile: are the names of the Moon.

Iratxoak:

Jean de l'Ours: a man born to a woman and a bear.

Jentilak (gentiles): giants, sometimes portrayed throwing rocks at churches. They are believed to be Basques themselves, seen from a partly Christianized viewpoint. A surviving jentil is Olentzero, the Basque equivalent of Santa Claus.

Lamiak or laminak: a type of creature with bird-feet that dwelt in rivers and springs.

Mairuak or Intxisuak: are the male equivalent of lamiak in the Pyrenean region.

Odei: is a storm clouds.

San Martin Txiki: is a trickster, also a famous christian character

Sorginak: is a mythological being that travel with Mari and other real witches.

Tartalo: the Basque version of the Greco-Roman Cyclops.


references:

http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?rog3=SP&peo3=10709

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_mythology