The market of Gernika

It is 9:00 a.m. on Monday morning in Gernika. The week begins, and tradition fills the square. From the vans parked along the nearby streets of San Roque, Don Tello and Domingo Bernaola, baskets of agricultural products emerge, brought in from different parts of the Busturialdea region. The classic green wooden tables are set up across the space, and checkered tablecloths are laid out on top: everything starts to get ready for the meeting with loyal clientele, who faithfully come every Monday. The stalls remain open until around 1:00 p.m., although it all depends on the pace of sales.

A MARKET WITH HISTORY

This much-loved weekly event has more than 650 years of history behind it, as it began to be held around 1366 thanks to the permission documented in the town's founding charter, which granted Gernika the right to organise a weekly market, which at that time took place on Wednesdays. Throughout history it has changed location on several ocasions, until reaching the place we know today, and it has therefore witnessed historic moments such as the 1937 bombing and the subsequent reconstruction of Gernika.

The venue where it is held nowadays was inaugurated in 1991, after the previous one had to be demolished due to the deterioration caused by the passage of time and the low quality of the materials used during the town's reconstruction after the bombing.

LUNES GERNIKES, KOLPERIK EZ

This old popular saying, which means "On Mondays in Gernika, not a stroke of work" and suggests that Monday is almost taken as a festive day, perfectly defines the effect this event has. The first day of the week in Gernika has always been especially lively, cheerful and ideal for social gatherings thanks to the MARKET and the cesta punta matches held at the FRONTÓN JAI ALAI. For visitors, coming to Gernika on a Monday is the perfect opportunity to experience the town in a unique atmosphere, and for locals who live away, it is the ideal excuse to reconnect with their roots.

“BASERRITIK, PLAZARA” FROM THE FARMHOUSE TO THE MARKET

The selection of products at the stalls varies depending on the time of year, as what the land produces each season travels from the baserri (farmhouse) to the market square. This is how the local women explain it, who, between sales, spend the morning chatting with family and friends. In winter, pumpkins, leeks, chard, cabbage, choricero peppers, apples, kiwis and lemons are plentiful, among others.

In summer, the king is the green pepper of Gernika, along with delicious tomatoes and all the summer fruits. In autumn, mushrooms take over the square, and in spring, asparagus and endives begin to appear.

GENERATIONAL SUCCESSION, A DEEP-ROOTED PRACTICE

Generational succession is common in most stalls, creating an atmosphere of closeness and a family-like environment - something that is hard to find in today's large supermarkets.

Susana Mandaluniz has spent 20 years at the stall, adding to the 40 years her mother already managed it, running a stand full of vegetables from their own garden. She keeps the tradition alive despite knowing that it is very difficult nowadays to make a living exclusively from this activity. Lourdes, in charge of the only stall with homemade sweets, also took over from her parents after 30 years. She sells various types of bread, chocolate, almond pastries and other sweets depending on the season.

Among the most recent additions to the market, Josu is part of a network of local producers (mainly offering organic products) who, in addition to participating in the weekly market, sell their products online and deliver them to customers. There is a stall exclusively selling farm eggs of different sizes, another with fresh sheep’s milk, another with flowers, and so on. Each one has its own style and tradition, and regardless of how long they have been around, they are the ones who truly keep the tradition alive, which the town appreciates by attending every Monday.

OTHER MARKETS AND FAIRS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

In addition to the Monday market, Gernika hosts other notable fairs throughout the year, such as the livestock fair on the First Monday of October, the largest agricultural fair on the Last Monday of October , and themed markets on the first Saturday of each month.

FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH

ONDO PASA!

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