The world, so far, has been a men’s place and as it used to be in almost every social event, local carnival festivities in the Basque Country were celebrated only by men. But it is 30 years now since women from Ituren and Zubieta began playing cowbells at the local carnival. Four girls from Ituren decided they were taking part among men. Since then the participation of women had some sort of continuity.

Juli Loiarte was the first girl who took part in the carnival in Zubieta, in 1990; Juli’s daughter Ane shook her first cowbells 15 years ago, and since then, she shakes them every year, together with Mikele, Maritxu and some others.