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Mendavia, Navarre.  The 25^th edition of the “Day of the Absent Navarran,” was celebrated last Saturday in Mendavia and gathered nearly 2,000 people living outside of the province.  The event was organized by the National Federation of Navarran Clubs of Spain, with the collaboration of the Government of Navarre and Mendavia’s town hall.  The event included a singing mass, a kalejira, music performances, an encierro, a theater performance, fireworks, exhibits and a meal attended by 600 people according to the Provincial Government.

Attending the event were the Navarrese Minister of Culture, Tourism and Institutional Relations, Juan Luis Sanchez de Muniain: the president of the National Federation of Navarran Clubs, Rosa Mary Ibañez: the local mayor and other authorities.

25 years of the “Day of the Absent Navarran”

During the day, the first celebration of the “Day of the Absent Navarran” was remembered celebrated on May 28 in Corella.  Since then the event has been hosted in Estella-Lizarra, Olite-Erriberri, Sangüesa-Zangoza, Tudela-Tutera,Iruña- Pamplona, Baztan, Viana, Lumbier-Irunberri, Peralta-Azkoien, Roncal-Erronkari, Tafalla, Lodosa, Aoiz-Agoitz, Los Arcos-Urantzia, Ochagavía-Otsagi, Milagro, Burguete-Auritz, Fitero, Arguedas, Artajona-Artaxoa, Funes, Ultzama and Corella where the 10th edition was also celebrated.

A traveling exhibit “Family Album,” was organized in conjunction with the 25th anniversary which is touring Navarran households.

Program of events

The day began with music, followed by the group of Miguel Perez and the Rondalla group San Juan Bautista of Mendavia that livened up the local streets.  At 11am, there was a high mass at the church of San Juan Bautista followed by a kalejira to the town hall, accompanied by gigantes and gaiteros from the Ezpelur group from Iruña-Pamplona.

At the town hall, the mayor of Mendavia, Maria Jose Verano, lit the rocket that officially started the day.  Then there was a tasting of local products in the Plaza de Los Fueros, followed by a performance by the Ribera Canta group in the exhibit hall La Carrera.

At noon, there was a meal in the municipal sports center that was sold out and gathered 600 people.  The program concluded in the afternoon with a livestock show from the Jesus Estenaga farm, and a theater performance My Land in my Heart, by Isaac Muñoz.  Fireworks ended the celebration.  During the day there the “Mendavia in Images,” exhibit was also available in the La Carrera hall.