Why go
The differences between nearby towns are the reason to look beyond a generic carnival label. Kakarro, the Leziaga witch and Markitos each carry a separate local story, giving the costumes and final rituals a meaning that a parade timetable alone cannot explain.
The full story
Basque rural carnivals have several names, including inauteriak, with forms varying by dialect. Their older winter setting connected disguise, songs and collecting food or contributions with a communal feast before Lent. Those customs changed as rural life changed; present celebrations should not be read as an untouched survival. In Amurrio, the Kakarro tradition includes dark clothing and covered heads. Laudio’s Leziaga witch recalls a local cave legend: a woman combs her hair with golden combs and draws shepherds towards her through song. The carnival figure belongs to that folk story, not to a claim about a historical witch. Zalduondo’s Markitos represents the year’s misfortunes and is subjected to a mock judgment before being burned. The character was revived in the 1960s. Many carnival traditions suffered prohibition or interruption during Franco’s dictatorship and were later recovered. Check each town’s own programme for dates and rituals; the shared seasonal background does not produce one identical celebration across the region.