Basque mythology and the traditions of Gau Beltza

Gau Beltza, also known as Arimen Gaua (Night of the Souls), represents a traditional Basque observance rooted in the end of harvests and the arrival of winter. Unlike modern commercialized celebrations, these customs are linked to ancestral Celtic cultures and were later integrated with Catholic liturgy regarding All Saints and All Souls Day.

Historical ethnographic records from the late 19th and early 20th centuries document these practices across Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Araba, and Navarra. Traditional customs included carving faces into turnips, pumpkins, or beets to hold candles, serving as a way to navigate the darkness and honor local mythological figures, such as wandering spirits and lords of the wind.