Korrika, a ritual that first emerged in 1980, is an annual running event in which thousands of people from all social spheres join together in carrying a baton to every corner of the Basque country. Each person runs for one kilometre as he/she carries the baton, bearing a message in the Basque language. Del Valle's book is a description of this modern way of expressing and reinforcing identity in the Basque country.

Approaching the ritual through the symbolic strategies of its organizers and participants, del Valle introduces the reader into the run from beginning to end. This offers the reader the opportunity to experience the mood of the race and to grasp the symbolism in context of the entire ritual.

"Korrika" describes and interprets modern Basque identity in terms of traditional symbols and activities. Furthermore, the book explores the process of selecting symbols in the midst of cultural and political change.

Del Valle argues against the popular notion that ritual is merely the invention of a small and manipulative group, and aims to make a significant contribution to current literature concerning the creation of traditions. This study is intended for students and professors of anthropology, Basque studies, political science, contemporary history, and the history of social movements.