Our Lady of Begoa

Our Lady of Begoña, affectionately known as "Amatxu" (little mother), is a revered figure in Bilbao, Spain, with her apparition celebrated at the Basilica of Begoña. The tradition dates back to an 8th-century legend when a statue of Mary was found in a hollow oak tree on Mount Artagan. This statue, made of linden wood, depicts Mary seated with the Child Jesus, holding a red rose and an open book. It is believed to have been donated by Diego Lopez de Haro or his predecessor.

The feast day of Our Lady of Begoña is October 11. The Basilica, begun in 1511, features a "Virgin's chamber" behind its high altar, where Mary is credited with helping stop the 1855 cholera epidemic. Sailors have long invoked her protection, as evidenced by votive offerings left in gratitude for safe journeys.

In 1903, Pope Pius X declared Our Lady of Begoña the patron saint of Biscay and elevated the shrine to a minor Basilica in 1908. The annual Feria de Nuestra Señora de Begoña in August is a significant event for bullfighters. In 2012, during Spain's economic crisis, politicians, including Bilbao's mayor, prayed to her for divine intervention.