euskalkultura.eus

Caracas, Venezuela.  With solemnity and feeling; that is how Aberri Eguna (Day of the Basque Homeland) celebrations transpired on April 20^th in Venezuela.  In Caracas, the day began at the Eusko Etxea headquarters in El Paraiso with mass celebrated in Basque by Jesuit Faher Pedro Galdos in the main hall of the clubhouse (the euskal etxea has the shape of a farmhouse), attended by more than 220 people according to Pedro Javier Arriaga Aguirre, club president.

[Aberri Eguna mass celebrated at the Caracas Basque club by aita Pedro Galdos, originally from Aretxabaleta, Gipuzkoa]

At 12:30 the anthems of Euskadi and Venezuela were played while their respective flags were raised at the Monument of the Gudari, at the club’s entrance.  Txistulari, Koldo Olalde, accompanied the crowd in singing the anthems.  Husband and wife team, Karmele Bilbao and Kepa Lecue raised the Venezuelan and Basque flags respectively.  This was followed by Ainara Olalde and Iker Urcelay dancing the Aurresku.

[Karmele Bilbao raised the Venezuelan flag while her husband, Kepa Lecue, raised the Ikurriña to the sound of each of their anthems]

Day of brotherhood

Pilota matches began at 1pm at the club’s fronton, Jai Alai.  Iker Urcelay (pilotari and dantzari) beat 'esku huska' Ekaitz Lacasa in 22-12 in the semi-finals, in a “beautiful game.” Next it was Paleta’s turn with a match between Jorge Borrajo and Mousiño winning 2 to 1, “an applauded match.”

[Pilota match between Kepa Urcelay and Ekaitz Lacasa with Kepa winning 22-12]

Lunch was served at 3pm, with nearly 300 people in attendance who enjoyed a menu including porrusalda, beans, “with all the trimmings,” tripe, tuna a la vizcaina, mushroom chicken, pastiche, rice pudding, natilla and yogurt, accompanied by good Navarran wines and some tropical beverages.

[Athletic Bilbao fans were able to watch the soccer match, even though the result wasn’t satisfactory]

Pedro Javier Arriaga wants to take advantage of this report in EuskalKultura.com to thank Maite Carranza, Oyane Arregui, Maite Arriaga, Josune Zubizarreta, María Isabel Arriaga, Agurtzane Arteaga, María Teresa Ballatori, María Isabel Ramírez, María Alejandra Ramírez, Anton Arriaga, Unai Azpiritxaga, Victor Ballatori, Txomin Viscarret, Clever Ramírez, Joseba Barreda, and, Gotzon Lacasa “and many others who are always ready to help, as well as those who attend, who notice problems but prefer to take them as an opportunity to improve rather than points to criticize, always trying to help and have a good time,” he said.

At the Carabobo Eusko Etxea

In the state of Carabobo, in Naguanagua-Valencia, the Carabobo Eusko Etxea also began the day with a mass celebrated in Basque and Spanish by Navarran Faher Jose Garcia, from the parish of La Isabelica.  Father invited Venezuelans to work and fight for a better country in his homily: “A country where we all live in peace, and considering each other as sons and daughters of the same Father and above all, respecting and seeking unity, reconciliation and peace,” according to the local newspaper Notitarde.

[Entry of the Basque and Venezuelan flags at the Aberri Eguna celebration at the Carabobo Basque club (photo Notitarde)]

The flags of both countries were offered as symbols of brotherhood and representative of the past, present and future of their lives.  Fr. Garcia, who is originally from Navarre and has been in Venezuela for more than 40 years, celebrated the religious ceremony last three years well and will also do so in August in honor of the Virgin of Begoña, patron saint of Naguanagua and of the Basque community, explained the newspaper.

Thanks to Venezuela

Josu Ugalde, Carabobo’s Eusko Etxea's president reminded EuskalKultura.com that Aberri Eguna is the main club celebration and that it has been celebrated, as in Caracas, every year since the foundation of the club, “In a show of brotherhood and attachment to our roots, from a deep appreciation of Venezuela.”

Following, all in attendance, in a wonderful festive atmosphere enjoyed a great meal including both Basque and Venezuelan components that included tripe, beans and marmitako.  The day concluded with a pilota match at the club’s fronton between players trained by Odon Ulibarrena.

Puerto La Cruz Basque club

The third Venezuelan Basque club, the Puerto La Cruz club, in the state of Anzoategui, did not hold the traditional celebration due to the situation in the country “and more specifically that of the Basque club, that due to these and other factors, including the loss of active members, the advanced age of others, and members being in Euskadi, didn’t hold a gathering, but instead various families hosted members in their homes to celebrate this important date on the Basque calendar,” said to our bulletin club member, Kepa Bideguren.