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This chapter considers the rites, customs and beliefs of our farm workers from time immemorial. Some of those practices date back to ancient times and have a magical slant. Others have been endorsed by the Christian calendar and liturgy and have been part, down through the centuries, of a culture that should have at the very least the standing of cultural heritage. Many of those beliefs and customs are waning but there were still in full force and effect when recorded several decades ago<ref>Gurutzi ARREGI. ''Ermitas de Bizkaia. ''. Bilbao: 1987, 3 volumes and ''Origen y significación de las ermitas de Bizkaia. ''. Bilbao: 1999.</ref>.
== Symbolic customs and rites: solstice fires ==
== Blessing the fields and seeds ==
The Feast Day of the Intervention of the Holy cross on 3 May was the main date in the calendar of the blessing of the seedbeds in spring, with blessed crosses being placed in the fields<ref>ETNIKER EUSKALERRIA. ''Casa y Familia en Vasconia.'' . Atlas Etnográfico de Vasconia = Euskalerriko Atlas Etnografikoa = Atlas Ethnographique du Pays Basque. Volumes I & II. Bilbao: Etniker Euskalerria; [Vitoria-Gasteiz]: Eusko Jaurlaritza; [Pamplona]: Government of Navarra- Bilbao: Labayru Institute, 2011, pp. 735-754.</ref>.
== Bell-ringing and spells against storms. Moving the saint's images ==
In other districts, the bell that was the spell was tolled every Sunday in spring and part of summer, when the hail in the storms could cause damage. The curse and prayer formulas used were taken from the Roman Ritual. When there was no priest and the threat was imminent, the sexton or hermit would curse the storm.
== Prayers, letaniak ==
There were no specific measures to protect the fields from bad weather. The farm worker was perpetually looking at the sky and had no means of protection against blizzards, frost or storms with hail, and droughts. They could only resort to religion to protect the fields in the past.
*Annual prayers during pilgrimages to shrines.
{{DISPLAYTITLE: XIX. PROTECTION CUSTOMS AND RITES IN AGRICULTURE}} {{#bookTitle:Agriculture in the Basque Country|Agricultura_en_vasconia/en}}
