Many Basque Clubs around the world celebrated Donostia-San Sebastian's most beloved feast, the Danborrada, when it was most conventient for them. Each Euskal Etxea, however, adapted the festivity to its reality. EuskalKultura.com talked to Itziar Albisu and Iñigo Ruiz, who were in charge of this celebration in New York and Quebec, respectively, to bring the unique feel of each celebration to our readers. “It's a very beautiful festivity,” in the words of Albisu. “participating, and you don't have to be from Donostia to love it.”
New York/Montreal. Itziar Albisu is currently the treasurer of the Euzko Etxea of New York but, a decade ago, she was the president and, among other things, she started the tradition of celebrating the Danborrada in the Big Apple. “There was a gap in the calendar between the celebrations in December and Saint Agatha, in February. So, I thought, 'why don't we celebrate the Danborrada?'.
Albisu was born in Donostia and moved to New York in 1988, so her desire to bring a piece of her hometown to the States is not surprising. However, she sees very clearly that “you don't have to be from Donostia to love it. It's a very beautiful festivity.” And, jokingly, she added: “It's, actually, the one day when you can make noise by hitting the table, at lunch, and nobody will say anything," she smiles.
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For their part, Basques residing in Montreal celebrated the Danborrada for the second time this year. In 2014, Iñigo Ruiz, board member of Euskaldunak Quebec, planned it for the first time, in 2015 they did not celebrate it but, this year, they decided to recover the tradition.
To some extent I am in charge of celebrating the Danborrada here,” stated Ruiz. “I am originally from Oñati (Gipuzkoa), but I lived in Donostia for ten years and I have very beautiful memories of this festivity.” In their first edition, around 50 people gathered, proving that this jaia is attractive beyond the boundaries of Donostia and Azpeitia -in Gipuzkoa, where it is also celebrated.
More than 'just' drums
New Yorkers' first Danborrada took place at night but, since many of them have kids now, they adapted the plan to the new necessities of their members and, this year, they celebrated it at lunch time. Forty-eight friends gathered at the Club on the 17, exactly the same day that the Athletic Club Bilbao was playing against F.C. Barcelona. It was a very attractive match to watch. So, despite being Donostia's day, all the attendees supported Bilbao's players, while enjoying a tasty menu with their home-made drums by their side.
In Quebec, this year's Danborrada was celebrated in two different days. On the 19th, Basque-Quebecois watched the original Danborrada via live streaming, in a nice atmosphere. But, since it was during the week, they also organized a little celebration on Saturday, January the 23rd, that included some food and drinks, for everybody to enjoy. “It is easier for the people to join us on the weekend,” explained Ruiz. Euskara, music, pintxos, and some beverages were the main ingredients to bring Donostia a little closer to Quebec.
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