July 31 is the Feast of Saint Ignatius, patron Saint of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, festivities that have a long history in many Basque clubs. They, for another year, have organized various activities to mark the occasion. Events in Boise, ID deserve special recognition. There it is one of the most important dates of the year, and the festivities run for days. There will be events in Santiago, Chile, Mexico City and in cities in Argentina like Necochea, Arrecifes, Roldan and Corpus Christi to name a few.
Donostia-San Sebastian. The San Inazio festivities will begin this Friday in Boise, Idaho with dinner for family and friends of the Basque Center. On Saturday, the Basque Block will fill with music and dancing with the Boiseko Gazteak, Txantxangorriak and the Oinkari Basque Dancers. There will be pala matches all weekend long. At 7pm there will be mass at St John’s Cathedral with the participation of the local Oñati Dantza Taldea. This will be followed by a dance to the music of Amuma Says No.
Sunday is dedicated to a picnic and games in the city park and in the afternoon Txantxangorriak and Amuma Says No will close the party on the Basque Block with another dance.
In Argentina, the young Corpus Christi Basque club, in the province of Misiones, celebrates San Ignacio with special relevance. The Basque club will also begin its festivities on Friday, July 29, with a screening of the film Amama as part of the traveling film series, presented by Carlos Gabilondo; including a mateada and talk, mass and dinner at the Basque club.
On Sunday, the day will begin with mass and a procession with the Bishop of Posadas; lunch, raffles, and a talk by Professor Cesar Arrondo: “The Basque Diaspora,” as well as a farewell dinner.
In Mexico City, the Basque club will also participate with a San Ignacio dinner that will take place on Saturday, July 30th.
In Chile, the Euzko Etxea in Santiago, who also regularly celebrates the date, will do so this year with a dinner on Sunday, July 31st. Events of the day include mass, followed by a dance performance by the Itxaropen Gaztea group and a performance by the Basque Choir. The day will conclude with a meal.
Another Chilean Basque club who will celebrate is the Eusko Etxea in Valparaiso, who has organized a complete program of activities for Sunday July 31st. The events will begin with mass celebrated by Fr. Jose Miguel Medina Arizmendiarrieta, from Amorebieta-Zornotza, Bizkaia. Afterwards there will be cocktails and a welcome at the Basque club, where a sapling of the Tree of Gernika will be planted on the patio. Finally, at 3pm the duo formed by Nestor Aguirre and Mary Andonaegui will perform a concert.
In Arrecifes, Argentina, the feast of San Inazio-San Ignacio also has a long tradition, and has been celebrated prior to the creation of the Basque club and Society of Mutual Benefit, Euskaldunak Denak Bat. This year, since the San Inazio day falls on Sunday, it will be celebrated its proper day, July 31st with Basque dancing, a concert by the group Maral, and a performance by “Iruki Alaiak,” the children’s choir, the group from the recreational and free singing workshop, and a performance by Jonatan Morales, followed by dinner.
Other Basque clubs who always celebrate San Ignacio are clubs in Necochea (Argentina), Caracas Eusko Etxea (Venezuela), Madrid Euskal Etxea (Spain), Jasone Etxea (Paraguay), and the Miami Basque club (USA).... although there are many more celebrations.
If your club also celebrates, or your family or community in the Diaspora, please tell us about it via email info@euskalkultura.com.
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