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General Las Heras, Argentina.  In spite of it being Winter in Argentina, members of the General Las Heras Basque club could celebrate San Juan and San Pedro festivities.  The event at the Zazpirak Bat Basque club took place on June 22 at 7pm at the Athletic Club Sportsmen.

The Kalejira began at 8pm through the streets and later, after dark, the members of the local dance groups and the Basque club in Cañuelas danced to the Plaza de la Madre.  The witch was waiting in the shed at the railway station where they wait every year to burn it.  While it burned the dantzaris danced around and performed various traditional pieces include Sorgin Dantza.

Two hundred people gathered for dinner in the gym of the Club Sportmen that was decorated like in the 60s, donated by the Taverna sisters. For the first time the town played the Tamborrada from San Sebastian to welcome the diners.  Throughout the dinner members of Iturri Zaharreko Ur Berria and the dantzaris from Denak Bat in Cañuelas performed various Basque dances.

[Tamborrada at the club Sportsmen in General Las Heras]

The Tamborrada wasn’t the only novelty since they also awarded prizes from the Zazpirak Bat Basque club to six members of Basque blood: Dolli Irigoyen, renowned chef at the national and international levels; Raúl Ithurburu, founder of the Campo de Pato General Las Heras in 1943; Alejandro Yaven, winner of six Olympic silver medals and Argentine Open with the Pink and Black in 1990; Martín Salaberry, ten time Olympic Silver; and Nicolás Taverna, two times Olympic Silver. Finally, a Young athlete of Basque descent was recognized, Facundo Kennedy Salaberry. The celebration lasted until 2am.

Bonfire in Mexico

On the other hand, also on June 22 at the Basque club in Mexico a dinner was organized that included some members of the Basque club with a traditional bonfire.  Only the bravest held up the tradition of jumping over the fire.

[Members of the Euskal Etxea in Mexico around the fire]

These weren´t the only Basque clubs to carry out the tradition of San Juan: also in Chivilcoy and General Roca (Argentina), in Naguagua and Caracas (Venezuela), in Elko (US), in Madrid (Spain) and many other also held their respective celebrations.