12/09/2011

Mark Ayling´s love for the Basque Country has inspired many plans for the iPhone app “The Basque Country: Cuisine and Culture," which we have previously reported on. He told Euskalkultura.com that he plans to expand this interactive guidebook into the languages spoken in the Basque Country and further explore the Basque regions that have yet to be included in the app. He knows that a project like this is difficult and may take a long time, but he is confident in making it happen. Ayling wants the world to know the beauty of the Basque Country and to be able to experience all the treasures it has to offer, in as many ways possible. Ayling also wants to share his knowledge of a fascinating region that deserves more recognition far beyond a small paragraph in a travel book on Spain or France.
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12/08/2011

Everything is ready in Berlin for tomorrow’s opening of the second edition of the Festival of Basque Choreographers. All weekend long there will be a steady stream of some of the most outstanding dancers and dance proposals from the Basque Country to the German capital. But the festival will be more than that since there will also be poetry and literature from the likes of Itxaro Borda and Edorta Jimenez; as well as film with the screening of the “Apaizac obeto” (Priests better) and “Modernist Basque Surfing.” Mikel Aristegui, Basque dancer living in Berlin is one of the promoters of the festival, together with the Gernika Basque Center of the German capital city.
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12/08/2011

Since December 2nd the 4th International Pilota Tournament has been taking place in Bilbao bringing together some of the best players from Argentina, Australia, Chile, Mexico, Uruguay, USA, Venezuela and the Basque Country. The tournament is played on both the fronton and trinquet in the following categories: fronton, singles handball, women’s paleta goma, and open pala corta; at the trinquet, doubles handball, open handball doubles, men’s paleta goma, and paleta cuero.
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12/07/2011

The Olentzero has been on the Internet for years and today there are many sites that provide a virtual corner for the magical coal maker. On EuskalKultura.com we have gathered a list of sites that you can surf with the little ones in your house during this festive time. There, our readers will find games and activities: can write a letter, send greeting cards, make dolls and draw, learn carols, play video games… Enter and begin to enjoy this Christmas Season!
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12/06/2011

In response to the request from various euskal etxeas, the Zingirako Euskaldunak club in Argentina has extended the application period for Udaleku 2012 until December 13th, Tuesday of next week. The event is aimed at kids between the ages of 11 and 16, and will take place January 4-8, 2012 in Chascomus. As prior camps, the goal is for teens to get to know each other while learning more about different expressions of Basque culture. Anyone interested should contact the members of the euskal etxea at the contact information listed below.
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12/05/2011

Madrid’s Basque center celebrated the International Day of Euskera last Thursday in style. On that very day the club received notice that they had won the 2011 ENE prize from Eusko Ikaskuntza, recognizing their efforts in favor of the Basque language. The Deputy Minister of Language Policy of the Basque Government, Lurdes Auzmendi , was also present and joined in congratulating the entity. Along with club president Julio Elejalde, Auzmendi renewed the agreement of collaboration between the club and HABE, in support of Basque classes given there. During the next course 2,456 hours of class will be given to nearly 150 students.
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12/02/2011

Still in the beginning of December and a number of readers have asked where they can find electronic greeting cards in Basque to send to friends and family. This is an article that we publish annually, and we always find new or original cards. We encourage you to celebrate in Basque; all you need is a couple of minutes to send a virtual hug to your loved ones to let them know that you are thinking of them. We will also publish another one dedicated to the kids with addresses and websites for the Olentzero (Basque Santa Claus).
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12/02/2011

The object of the contest, “Txioka Sarean,” is to encourage people to wish each other Happy Holidays in Basque, awarding the best messages sent on Twitter or Facebook. The deadline to enter is December 18th. A jury will choose the top three messages that will receive the following prizes: a Christmas basket, a stay for two at the Areatza Spa and a Samsun Galaxy Pad donated by the Eguren Appliances in Lekeitio. We have contacted the Azkue Foundation and were reassured that the contest is open to Basques all over the world, and if the winner is in the Diaspora, that the prize will be sent to wherever he/she lives.
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12/01/2011

Basque literature is making its mark this year at Guadalajara’s Book Fair in Mexico. Among the events that were striking was the presentation of the Spanish version of 'Etxeko Hautsa' (Los trapos sucios in Spanish, Dirty Laundry in English) in the Readers Present section. The author, Anjel Lertxundi, was also present but those who talked about the book were three of its Mexican readers. They explained that the book talked about “common feelings that affect all of us, irrespective of origin, or the language that it is written in,” and “it hooks the reader with a surprising ending.” They invited the public to delve into the work as well as Basque literature.
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12/01/2011

This Saturday, December 3rd, Basques all over the world will celebrate the International Day of Euskera, an event that enjoys great support in Basque clubs all around the world. In places like Australia, Argentina, Mexico, Italy, Uruguay, Chile or the US there are many Basque descendants who study Basque, in a personal effort to conserve and cultivate the languages of their ancestors. All together, with other thousands of Basques in the Diaspora, they will join a host of activities to celebrate the “lingua navarrorum.”
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