Santa Agata ~ February 5

Saint Agatha of Sicily (231 AD – 251 AD) is a Christian saint and virgin martyr. Her memorial is on February 5^th. Agatha was born at Catania or Palermo, Sicily, and she was martyred in approximately 251. She is one of seven women, who, along with the Blessed Virgin Mary are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass.

She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients, martyrs, wet nurses, bell-founders, bakers, fire, earthquakes, and eruptions of Mount Etna.

Basques have a tradition of gathering on Saint Agatha’s Eve (Basque: Santa Ageda bezpera) and going round the village. Homeowners can choose to hear a song about her life, accompanied by the beats of their walking sticks on the floor or a prayer for the household’s deceased. After that, the homeowner donates food to the chorus.This song has varying lyrics according to the local tradition and the Basque language.

On our latest CD — NOKA & Mikel Markez : Bi Ahizpak – we did a version of Santa Agata.

Santa Agata

Jende onak, huna gu huna gu  Good people, this

Kantatu nahi dinagu                We would like to sing

Usaia begiratu  eta aditu           To see and hear

Santa Agataren kondu              about Santa Agata

Kintiano pretora gaixtoa             Emperor Kintaino

Hartaz agradatua                          found her agreeable

Gan zitzaion neskaren etxera     He went to the girl’s house

Ohaidetzat biltzera                       To make her his concubine

-Agata, Kristau ona haiz ala?   -Agata, are you a Christian?

-Ba eta nahi ere                             –Yes, and I want to be

-Ez zain desohore (bis)               –Aren’t you ashamed?

-Ohore baizik nere                        –No, it’s an honor

Jo dute ukabilka (bis)              They struck her repeatedly

Odola burrus-taka                    Made her drip blood head to toe

Agata iduri du arroka              She withstood it valiantly

Deusek ezin kordoka               They did not shake her resolve

Ostiko, laido zikin-zikinan       They kicked her on the dirty straw

Azote, ur irakin                            Whipped with fern and water

Larrutze su-puntekin (bis)        Skinned with hot pokers

Nork iraun hoik denekin?        Who could survive all that?

–Ukan hor berehala                  -Right now, deny

Jesus hire idola!                         Jesus, your idol!

-Ez dirot sekulan abandona      -I will never abandon

Ene gatik hil dena!                      He who died for me!

Besoak lotuak, bihurturik        Hands tied up

Zangoak leherturik                   Legs smashed

Bularrak urraturik, Agata         Breasts cut off

Hor datza hil-utzirik                 Left to die

Estatu hortan bada, gaixoa       In that state

Uzten dute etxera                     They took her home

Gan dezaten hiltzera, Agata     To die

Bere jenden artera                    Among her people

Source:  Patri Urkizu, Lapurdi Baxanabarre eta Zuberoako 1: pg. 319