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Donostia-San Sebastian. On April 20^th the Gure Etorkia Basque club and the Hilario Olazaran txistu and dance group celebrated Aberri Eguna with a festival at the Cerro San Cristobal in Santiago, Chile.  This is where the Plaza de los Vascos is located and where an exhibit of Basque, Chilean, and Mapuche culture, dance and music took place.

The day began with mass celebrated by Fr. Rodrigo Tupper, where deceased members and friends were remembered.  Afterwards the Euskadi hymn was sung and Maitane Uribe danced the Aurresku before the sapling of the Tree of Gernika, with the Delegate of Euskadi, Rafael Kutz Garaizabal in attendance.

The demonstration of Basque, Chilean and Mapuche cultures followed.  First the Antumapu Folkloric group danced a “polka” and a Chilean “cueca” followed by a “Machi” or a Mapuche spiritual guide who carried out a ceremony blessing the Ikurriña on behalf of the Basque and Mapuche peoples.  In addition, a pair of Scottish gaiteros joined in the festival with a popular Scottish song.

[Txistularis from the Hilario Olazaran ensemble played during the festival (photo GureEtorkiaEE)]

[Performance by the Antumapu Group (photo GureEtorkiaEE)]

Next, the Navarran txalapartaris Ariane and Maitane performed and then Maitane Uribe danced the “Jota Zaharra” and the “Arin Arin,” accompanied by the alboka played by angel Espinoza.  Encouraged by the great atmosphere, a group of young Basque-Chileans began to dance spontaneously, doing “Zazpi Jauzi” and “Esku-dantza” together, accompanied by txistularis Pilar, Raimundo, Aitor Xabier and Angel “Gotzon” Espinoza.

[Dancers doing “Esku-dantza” spontaneously (photoGureEtorkiaEE)]

According to Basque club sources, the atmosphere was wonderful and the festival continued with the help of various youth from the Basque Country.  “We got many new young friends who came to Chile looking for work and live here now. They attended and were happy to meet other Basques to help alleviate their homesickness.”

In New York with Trikitixa

In New York, the Euzko Etxea gathered nearly one hundred friends and members on April 20^th to celebrate Aberri Eguna.  The day began with a pintxo tasting followed by a meal, put together by club vice president, Iñaki Bakedano.  From the Basque Country, trikitilaris Kristina eta Kristina entertained with their music.  “We had a phenomenal time and we were able to created great atmosphere, Iban Ubarretxena, club president told EuskalKultura.com.

[The Euzko Etxea in New York almost ready to start the Aberri Eguna luch (photo NYEE)]

[Trikitilaris Kristina eta Kristina provided the music (photo NYEE)]

In Miami, solidarity

The atmosphere was great on Aberri Eguna in Miami too. There an important component of solidarity was included.  The festival took place at the Royal Palm Island belonging to the Angulo family, where the Basques of Miami enjoyed a picnic.  The weather was excellent and the food too, with various musical selections including the merengue, Juan Luis Guerra, to the trikitixa, according to club sources.

[Joseba Andoni Larrazabal with his brother Enaitz and Kristina Guenetxea of the Miami Basque club at the Aberri Eguna celebration (photo MiamiEE)]

At the event, $1,750 was raised for Joseba Andoni Larrazabal, originally of Bakio but who resides in Miami to receive special treatment for injuries sustained in an accident when he was only 11months old.  For more information on his story and the campaign go here.

The Basque club thanks everyone for their collaboration in organizing and helping with the event, especially the Angulo family.