euskalkultura.eus

The Mexico City Basque club has marked November 28 on its calendar, the day that all women who, sometimes from the shadows, but have tirelessly contributed to Basque cultural maintenance in the country.  The festivities are being called Emakume Alai and will remembers women, past and present, who have filled the Basque club with life with their contributions. 

Mexico City, Mexico. The idea came from Itxaropen Palacios Barinagarrementeria and quickly caught on with many other women in the Mexican Basque club.  “My mom, as many mothers of her generation, participated in the Basque club when it was on Madero and Centro streets.  They used to get together once a month and without any resources, like now, by phone, driving etc, they, as many Basque women participated in Basque club events but without any recognition,” Itxaropen told EuskalKultura.com.

The event will take place on November 28 and we will resolve that.  “We had decided to get together to remember some moments that we experienced with the support of these women, and also current ones like Itziar Urquiola and Miren Aguirre, among others, who have served as president of the club; supporting at all times everything related to our roots,” she said.

The program for the event is in progress, and an invitation has already been sent to all of the women who participated in the club’s life at one time or another, from the generation of the amamas to the new generations.  The festivities will begin with a talk by Itziar Urquiola who will remind the members of their outstanding contributions throughout different eras.  

The party will continue with Basque song: first of all attendees will sing Maitechu Mia, “in tribute to the ideals, suffering and joys of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who immigrated to Mexico,” Miren Aguirre, another organizer explained.  Afterwards, the Women’s Choir will sing Ixilik Dago, La del Pañuelo Rojo, and some other Basque and Mexican songs.

The day will also include a Basque dancing contests, the election of a queen (in remembrance of an event form the 60s), a fashion show (like those done in the 70s) and a modern dance contest (from the 60s, 70s and 80s.).

One of the main goals of the event, according to organizers, besides paying tribute to women in the Basque club, is making the younger generations aware of the beginning of the club and how women have always played an important part and so that they are aware of the importance of their participation.