September 21, 2006: Spanish Antzar Eguna festival: decapitate the goose

[Undertoad]

From the Sydney Morning Herald comes this item, with which we continue the weird festival IotDs. The official caption:

As part of the Basque San Antolin festival, a contestant in the "Antzar Eguna" (Day of the Geese) competition attempts to decapitate a dead goose. The animal is suspended from a rope in the middle of the harbour and contestants have to hold onto the goose for as long as possible while being dunked in the sea by onshore spectators raising and lowering the rope.

Googling around for "Antzar Eguna" turned up a bit more information. Turns out, in another part of this festival, they try to decapitate the dead goose while on horseback.

Also turns out, until a few decades ago, the geese were alive during these competitions.

ThinkSpain:

The Day of the Geese contest has been held during the San Antolín festival since 1877, being held previously either during the San Roque or Andra Mari festival in August. Whereas the contest used to be held in the town's main square, it has been held over water since 1722. Apparently, it is traditional to settle any dispute about the winner with a rowing race round San Nicolás island out in the middle of Lekeitio bay.

Pull the heads off a few geese and then row around the bay. Okay. It would appear that some of these festivals are better than others.