San Martin Txiki
Basque trickster who stole farming secrets from the Basajaunak.
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San Martin Txiki is the trickster figure from Basque mythology, also called Martintxiki or Samartitxiki.[1][2] From the lords of the woods, known as Basajaunak, he acquired the techniques for planting, sowing, and harvesting without their knowledge.[2]
Quick Facts
- Also known as
- Martintxiki, Samartitxiki
- Role
- Trickster
- Associated figures
- Thor, Loki (Norse mythology)
- Antagonists
- Basajaunak (lords of the woods)
Facts from the source article.
Life and work
The Basajaunak tried to break the saw by bending its teeth, but this only made it stronger.[3][4] Because he had put on oversized boots that day, when he tumbled into the wheat, the boots captured many seeds.[5][4] By instructing a servant to pretend that he already knew the method, San Martin Txiki learned the technique of soldering from the Basajaunak.[3][4] The Basajaunak explained the soldering process, and the servant passed that explanation along to San Martin Txiki.[3]
Taking inspiration from the serrated outline of chestnut leaves, San Martin Txiki created the earliest saws.[2][3]
What the cited sources add
The Uberuaga account states that San Martin Txiki is the only saint-hero in Basque stories.[4] It further notes that the stories of San Martin are unique to Europe.[4] The account suggests a possible connection with Scandinavian mythology, comparing San Martin Txiki to Thor or Loki.[4] The Basajaunak he tricks are similar to the Jötunn that Thor and Loki trick.[6]
San Martin Txiki stole from local wild men and was never punished.[4]
References
- Wikipedia, "San Martin Txiki" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: McCusker, "Pedagogy of the Clown: Clowning Principles in Education", Springer Nature, 28 August 2023 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "San Martin Txiki" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Oppon, "Fool Me", Crossed Crow Books, 28 July 2026, p. 150-151 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "San Martin Txiki" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uberuaga, "Basque Fact of the Week: San Martin Txiki, the Basque Trickster", Buber's Basque Page, 17 January 2021 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Uberuaga, "Basque Fact of the Week: San Martin Txiki, the Basque Trickster", Buber's Basque Page, 17 January 2021. facts only, no text reused. buber.net
- Wikipedia, "San Martin Txiki" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Oppon, "Fool Me", Crossed Crow Books, 28 July 2026, p. 150-151; Uberuaga, "Basque Fact of the Week: San Martin Txiki, the Basque Trickster", Buber's Basque Page, 17 January 2021 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "San Martin Txiki" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Uberuaga, "Basque Fact of the Week: San Martin Txiki, the Basque Trickster", Buber's Basque Page, 17 January 2021; Oppon, "Fool Me", Crossed Crow Books, 28 July 2026, p. 150-151 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article San Martin Txiki (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
More in Supernatural beings identified with Christian saints
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: San Martin Txiki (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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