euskalkultura.eus

Saladillo, Argentina.  The Itxaropen Basque club in Saladillo has a lot to celebrate.  For starters, everything that they have accomplished in the last 15 years, especially gathering Basque and descendants in the city but as well as the various activities that they have provided the community and all interested in the Basque Country, its culture and its people.

With all of this as motivation, members and friends of the club gathered on July 8 to celebrate another anniversary of the institution.  The dinner took place with great atmosphere and gathered hundreds of people to the institution including representatives from Basque clubs in Chivilcoy, Chacabuco and Cañuelas.  It was up to the dancers from Denak Bat to don the traditional costumes and abarkas to perform traditional dancers to all present.

[The Los Robles room filled to capacity to celebrate Itxaropen’s 15^th anniversary (photo EE)]

[With white shirts and red scarfs, members of the club were in charge of greeting and serving guests (photo EE)]

When it was time to sing, it was the members of Maral who encouraged everyone to sing songs in Basque and Spanish and even leave their seats for the dance floor.  After midnight, and with the start of a new day, the National Anthem was sung to commemorate the 197th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  It was also after midnight when the Mayor, Carlos Gorosito took advantage of the occasion to present 50,000 pesos, money earmarked for the third phase of work on the clubhouse that includes gas and electrical, according to club sources. 

[Repeating the experience of 2008, this year Maral also played at Itxaropen’s anniversary (photo EE)]

[The local Mayor, Carlos Antonio Gorosito, shared a moment with the community and presented a contribution to the euskal etxea (photoEE)]

Finally, we would like to remind you that the 15^th anniversary of Itxaropen was declared of Public Interest and that as part of the festivities the club will host the National Mus Championship on August 17 and 19.