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Gooding, ID.  On February 3^rd a large group of members and friends gathered at Gooding’s Euskal Etxea to celebrate their monthly dinner as well as to celebrate Santa Agueda.  Joining local members in the celebration were Asun Bedialauneta, former Basque teacher, Steve Mendive, Basque student from Boise, Itxaso Cayero, teacher at Boise’s Ikastola and Izaskun Kortazar, Euskera Coordinator for NABO.

The story of Santa Agueda and the tradition of singing verses to her through the streets of the Basque Country were explained over dinner.  Afterwards, the invitees made their way to the microphones, and the club members were encouraged to sing some of the traditional songs, while keeping time with makilas or sticks on the floor. 

Hymns at the Lekuona in Boise

In addition, on February 6^th, three groups of Basque students got together at the Lekuona where they sang verses that they had learned and had been practicing in class.

“Jose Mari, from the Lekuona, gave us chorizo, cheese and ham pintxos.  Thanks to the Artiach family,” Izaskun Kortazar explained to EuskalKultura.com.  “The customers that were there were interested in the origin of the songs and what they meant, and they even asked us to sing some more.”

[Itxaso Cayero, on the left, during the recital at the Lekuona in Boise (photo NABO)]

[Boise Basque students put into use what they learned in class (photo NABO)]