Many of our products are made in the Basque Country. And because we like the peculiarities of the Basques as much as their delicious products, we would like to introduce you to a very special peculiarity:
The game of pelota, also called pelota vasco, is a traditional Basque game with a festival character. This is a kickback game in which two players or two teams of two take turns trying to hit a ball against a wall. Direction and acceleration are subject to certain rules, and certain instruments may be used for acceleration. It is up to the player whether they use their bare hand, a pickguard or a pointed cabbage with a catch and throw function to play. Depending on the playing instrument, the pelota has a different name. For example, the game with the bare hand is called Pelota a Mano, while Pelota a Pala uses a simple wooden racket and is reminiscent of the game of squash. If the player wears a glove that is connected to an elongated basket, the game is called Cesta Punta. The playing fields in front of the playing wall, which is called the Frontón, are 35 to 60 meters long and up to 15 meters wide. The players are also called Pelotari.
In some places in the Basque Country, the balls for the game of pelota are handmade by family businesses. It is said that every tourist who travels to the Basque Country encounters a frontón, even in the smallest villages, and just watching the pelota a mano, the hand-held game, is said to be incredibly captivating.
The pelota can now also be found indoors in the Spanish and French Basque countries. But it is also played in the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, the Philippines. In 1900, pelota was even an Olympic sport. Unfortunately, the first and only time. Nevertheless, in the Basque Country it has a similar status as football and has been played professionally and broadcast on regional TV channels since the 20th century.