Euskal kultura

On February 4th the feast of Santa Agueda will be celebrated in hundreds of villages and neighborhoods in the Basque Country with the singing of typical songs by choirs, associations and simply by groups of neighbors who gather to carry on the tradition. This will also be the case in some parts of the Diaspora. In the US, for example, the kids at Boise’s ikastola will sing this Friday, and next Monday Basque students in the community will take over. In Madrid, the Euskal Etxea’s choir will go out, as every year to sing in the heart of the city, stopping at such landmarks as the Puerta del Sol and the Plaza Mayor.

Donostia-San Sebastian. Following the recently recuperated tradition, the Basque community in Boise will sing to Santa Agueda, in two separate events organized by the Ikastola and the city’s Basque language students. The first activity will take place this Friday at the ikastola, where the children will gather, along with their parents and teachers, to sing the traditional verses that they have been practicing. This will take place at 10 am.

For those who can’t participate in the first event, they will have another chance on Monday February 6th along with the Basque students in the community. The group will gather at 7pm at the Basque Museum, where they will begin to sing. They will then sing their way through the Basque Block including some stops at the bars in the area.

In the middle of Madrid

In Madrid, this event is a tradition in the local Basque club. Once again the club’s choir will be in charge of leading the singing procession. This will take place this Saturday, the feast day, and everyone is invited to join in. The Euskal Etxea has published an itinerary for those who would like to attend the event:

•19:00. Plaza de San Nicolás (Txoko-Zar)

•19:15. Plaza de la Villa

•19:35. Sacramento Street (in front of the bishopric)

•19:45. Plaza Mayor

•20:00. Puerta del Sol

•20:15. Plaza Santa Ana

•20:30. Quevedo, 3 (Zerain)

•20:45. Marqués de Cubas (Kupela)

•21:00. Euskal Etxea (Jovellanos, 3)