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BILBAO, 22 (EUROPA PRESS)
Bilbao City Council has acquired, for 440,000 euros, the intellectual property rights of ‘Marijaia’, designed by the painter and engraver Mari Puri Herrero on August 19, 1978, commissioned by the Festival Committee.
The Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, accompanied by the Councilor for Culture and Governance, Gonzalo Olabarria, and for Fiestas, Itziar Urtasun, met this Thursday with the artist and author of the character, Mari Puri Herrero, to formalize the contract.
In this way, the author of this Aste Nagusia icon, Mari Puri Herrero, has ceded the rights of reproduction, distribution and communication of this character “so loved by the people of Bilbao”, as reported by the Bilbao City Council.
The mayor has pointed out the importance of this figure for the city. “Marijaia is the great lady of the festivities and her presence infects us with joy, and what to say about her ability to unite with all of us who want to enjoy the festivities”, he highlighted.
Juan Mari Aburto also recalled the musician and composer Kepa Junkera and the tribute he paid to ‘Marijaia’ with his song ‘Badator Marijaia’, a melody, he said, that “is capable of moving us every time we listen to it”. “In Bilbao we do not understand the festivities without Marijaia”, he assured
In this way, after this agreement, valued at 440,000 euros, the City Council will have a manual that includes all the necessary details for the construction of ‘Marijaia’, in the next editions of the Semana Grande in Bilbao.
MARIJIA
‘Marijaia’ was designed by the painter and engraver Mari Puri Herrero on August 19, 1978, commissioned by the Festival Committee. The artist conceived this character as a woman with a traditional appearance, with a colorful dress inspired by the clothes used in rural areas and a scarf on her head. Her face is comical, rosy with prominent features. She is always dancing, that’s why she raises her arms up.
Every year a new ‘Marijaia’ is made on a large scale, in the manner of the ancient giants and big heads that will preside over each significant moment of Aste Nagusia. Its most important moment is the launch of the txupin, when it appears each year punctually after the proclamation to introduce itself to the people of Bilbao and kick off the festivities.
As a climax to the nine days of fun, the night of the second Sunday of the Bilbao festivities ‘Marijaia burns during a walk along the Ría that puts an end to Aste Nagusia.
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Media content:
Audio: Bilbao City Council acquires the intellectual property rights of ‘Marijaia’ for 440,000 euros
Duration: 01:12
Download url: https://audio.europapress.es/archivo/726045/1
