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Euskal Herria and the Diaspora are getting ready to celebrate Aberri Eguna, as every year, the celebration coincides with Easter Sunday (this year March 27). Basque clubs like those in Madrid, Caracas and New York, to name a few, never miss this celebration.  Other places that will celebrate include Lima, Santiago, Vancouver, Mexico, Sydney, London, Havana or Sao Paulo, and of course several places in Argentina (see separate article). 

Donostia-San Sebastian.  The Basque clubs in the Diaspora are preparing to celebrate one of the most important and solemn events of the year: Aberri Eguna, or the Day of the Homeland.  There are several clubs that celebrate this day and have done so for many years.  This date has become one of the largest events in many communities, even in some of the cases they traditionally move the celebration one of Sundays from the original.

One of the clubs celebrating next Sunday is the Caracas Euskal Etxea in Venezuela.  The day will begin with mass, followed by raising flags, singing of the national anthems  and a performance by the club’s choir at the clubhouse.  The choir began its season a few months ago and is directed by Henry Quintero.  Afterwards there will be pelota at 2:30pm followed by a meal prepared by Chef Samir Navarro.  The complete menu, here. A similar program and ceremonies will be held at the Valencia Naguanagua Basque Club, in the venezuelan state of Carabobo.

In Madrid, the Basque club will also celebrate with a meal this Sunday that will take place at the club’s Txoko. The menu will include salad with prawns, pork loin with peppers, dessert, wine, café and txupito: all prepared under the direction of Mentxu Casado, club member.

This year’s Aberri Eguna celebration in New York has been tainted by the untimely death of member, Patxi Bazurto in a car accident.  The club has decided to go ahead with the celebration in his memory. The event will have a different format and there will not be a meal.  The club has invited everyone to attend this traditional event in honor of Francisco.  There will be pintxos and drinks and “we will remember him as a happy, generous and well-respected member of the club.”

In Lima, Peru, the celebration will take place on Saturday, April 2 with an excursion to Pachamac, where the Aberri Eguna festivities will take place, as last year.  The festivities are organized by the Lima Basque club and the Limako Euskal Gazteria (Legaz). The day will be full of games, activities, entertainment and joy, as promised by the organizers.  There will be a bus to and from Lima to Pachamac for everyone to ride.

In Santiago, Chile, the Euzko Etxea Basque club will celebrate Aberri Eguna with its mus finals that will take place at the clubhouse on April 2. On Sunday, April 3, the Santiago celebrations will begin with a Catholic mass, sung  by the Basque Choir of Chile, plus performances and an Aberri Eguna lunch at the clubhouse. In Vancouver, Canada, the Zazpiak Bat Basque Society will celebrate Aberri Eguna even later on April 9 with a party in the city of Burnaby.

In Havana, Cuba, a whole program of activities have been organized by the local Basque Club, from Tuesday to Sunday, being Sunday the main day with performances and a special Aberri Eguna lunch that will include music, bertsoak and Cuban and Basque ingredients.

Next two weeks details of the Aberri Eguna celebrations in many other Basque clubs and communities will be published in different articles and in our agenda, including activities by the Basque clubs in Mexico, Miami, Sydeny, Montevideo, Sao Paulo, London , Montreal and many others. The many Argenti ne ones have their own article.

-If you have information about you club's celebrations, please email us at: info@euskalkultura.com.  Eskerrik asko!