euskalkultura.eus

We made it to August, and as every year, we will take this month off from publishing the daily EuskalKultura.com newsletter, to recharge our batteries to return on the first Monday of September.  We dedicate August to working behind the scenes; in an initiative like ours there are many works “many of which aren’t seen” that are set aside during the year, but that still have to be completed.  In the meantime, and somewhat more relaxed, while the Basque clubs and communities still continue working…

Gooding, ID. …on their usual activities. Without going any further, in the US, in a few hours, the Gooding Basque Association, the Gooding, Idaho club, just an hour and a half from Boise, will hold its monthly dinner that is open to the entire community. They will do so in their new clubhouse situated on Euskadi Lane and will include Basque song, along with a Basque-style menu, accompanied by live accordion music.

Near Gooding, one hour by car to the West, the Basque community of Mountain Home is getting ready for its annual Basque picnic and festival. The local Basque club, called Lagun Onak, will hold its event at Basque Park, a privileged green space that also includes a historic fronton, along with an allegoric Basque mural, as well as two monuments: being the first one a sheepwagon that pays tribute to those who came in the last century from the Basque Country to begin their lives and American adventure as herders; and the second one a space with a big polychrome coat of arms of the seven Basque Provinces, with the wor Euskadi underneath, and a Basque flag with the names of the local families who contributed to the renovation project of this park and plaza. Just some meters away is the last emblematic building, the Bengochea Hotel (1910), that was in its time, one of the most prominent and modern in the area. The annual Basque festival will take place in these surroundings tomorrow including dancing, music, Basque mass, Mus, kid’s games, food and beverage, and Basque sports. The day will conclude with a public dance to traditional music.

Since we are talking about US events, allow me to include next week’s event in Gardnerville, Nevada for lovers of bertso and traditional Basque song. The local Basque club, the Mendiko Euskaldun Cluba in Gardnerville, just 45 minutes from Reno by car, will host this year’s edition of NABO’s Kantari Eguna, that will also include the participation of the Zaria Koru Eskola (Errenteria, Gipuzkoa) directed by Imanol Elizasu. Also performing will be Jean Bordachar, one of the greatest exponents of popular song in Zuberoa. On Friday night, the kick-off will take place at the JT Basque restaurant; Saturday’s events take place in Minden at the CVIC hall with dance music being provided by Manuela and Jean-Pierre Etchechury and Jean Flesher. This is for sure something to keep in mind if you will be in the area.

But many others events will be happening in the US, but in general in North and South American and in many other parts of the globe where there is a Basque presence, Don’t forget the rowers and the expedition that is crossing the northeast continent of America to arrive in St. Pierre and Miquelon on August 15th, just in time to place the first stone in the local Basque club, in this year that the entity has been officially recognized by the Basque Government. Or further south, for instance in Carabobo, Venezuela, at the feast of Our Lady of Begoña the patron saint of the city of Naguanagua, that is, along with Valencia, the site of the State of Carabobo Eusko Etxea.

Euskal Etxeas in Argentina, Chile and all of Latin America will continue to celebrate St. Ignatius (Iñaki Deuna or San Inazio), throughout the month of August, while others will adopt a lower profile during their summer, while others will enjoy their winter break. Mus fans will have the World Championships in California celebrated in both San Francisco and Chino. Other Basque families will be awaiting Artzai Eguna in Legazpi that will honor this year the Euskal Artzainak Ameriketan Association, that will organize there its 2017 gathering, taking the recognition with the other honorees, the Ocafrain brothers from Banca.

We won’t publish the newsletter during August, although we will continue to update the agenda and the page’s various sections. We will also work to present new additions, in an effort that until the end of the year we will put it on all the table, a last attempt to save the EuskalKultura.com project that continues in the same grave economic situation as it was at the beginning of the year. But nevertheless, before that we will be back in September. In the meantime enjoy your summer/winter break dear reader.