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The Chilean Basque music and dance group, Hilario Olazaran, hasn’t stopped during the last three months participating in various activities where they have entertained during the winter months in Santiago de Chile.  In July, for example, they took their music to the streets on the Feast of San Ignacio, then on August 20th they joined the International Folklore Day festivities.  On September 3rd, they also participated in the Medieval Day, introducing Basque mythology.

Santiago, Chile.  Winter has been very busy for the Chilean music and dance group Hilario Olazaran that participated in various activities.  On July 31, the group celebrated the Feast of San Ignacio at mass at the Church of Santiago, along with a Haitian choir.  After mass, the group performed a classic repertoire of biribilketak, as well as spontaneous singing with those in attendance.  The group also established a cultural commitment with the Haitian community in Chile to perform jointly in the future.

In August, specifically on Saturday the 20th, the professional folkloric ballet in Chile, Antumapu, celebrated, for the 5th year in a row, the International Day of Folklore in the capital with Hilario Olazaran joining in, representing the Basque Country for the third year in a row.  Once again the Ikurriña flew in the streets of Santiago and the group performed traditional Basque dances and music at the performance by countries that took place on the stage situated in the San Borja Park.  The association also participated in the radio program University of Chile “Chile its Land and its People,” a program on the Basque people.

On September 3rd, the group was part of the Second Medieval Gathering of the Sun in Santiago, Chile, representing the Basque Country and emphasizing its status as one of the most ancient cultures in Europe.  There was singing, an Aurresku, kalejira with txistu and tamboril, txalaparta, and herriko dantzak with the audience participating…for the first time also with the participation of characters of Basque mythology like Momotxorro and a Sorgiña.  “The presentation was very exciting and emotion, with the light of the sun disappearing to the rhythm of a txalaparta and the alboka along with other musicians attending the event,” Angel Espinoza, president of the entity, told EuskalKultura.com.