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As every year, reproducing greatly the experience in the Basque Country, euskal etxeas in South America continue to celebrate San Juan.  Even if the landscapes and climate are very different, the goal of celebrating continues to be the same: close one stage and begin another with a renewed, hopeful spirit.  Today’s article is a photo chronicle of San Juan festivities in Argentina and Uruguay.

Buenos Aires, Argentina.   2017 San Juan Festivities included varied activities and events: including Basque dance, children’s games, singing, jumps, hot chocolate and sweets, as well as dinner…but without a doubt, as every year, the biggest attraction was the bonfire used to celebrate the Winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, the longest night of the year, and the beginning of a new era.

The majority of Basque clubs that celebrate San Juan, did so last weekend, coinciding with the Night of San Juan celebrated on June 23rd,.  This was the case at Basque clubs in Argentina including Unión Vasca (Bahía Blanca), Centro Vasco Francés-Iparraldeko Euskal Etxea (Buenos Aires), Denak Bat (Cañuelas), Euskal Echea (Comodoro Rivadavia), Beti Aurrera (Chivilcoy), Loretako Euskaldunak (Las Flores), Lagun Onak (Pergamino) and Euskal Sustraiak (Trenque Lauquen). There were also festivities last weekend at the Saltoko Euskaldunen Taldea in Salto, Uruguay.

All activities organized by the Euzko Etxea in Necochea, Itxaropen in Saldillo and Haize Hegoa in Montevideo had to be rescheduled due to bad weather.  Saladillo will hold its events today, and Necochea will hold theirs on Friday the 30^th.  Following is a photo chronicle of some of the events.