BASQUE BASH

“Joaldunak” carnival revelers parade to Ituren during a traditional celebration in the northern Spanish region of Navarra on Monday. According to mythical Basque stories, the noise made by the big bells carried by the “Joaldunak” ward off evil spirits and give prosperity for a year to the people living in nearby towns. Every year, villagers from Zubieta parade to the neighboring town of Ituren to join this traditional carnival, which is considered a festival to welcome the spring after a tough winter in the deep valleys of the Navarra region.Jan 30, 2013

Photo: Reuters