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San Francisco Basque Cultural Center's 33rd Anniversary
The San Francisco Basque Cultural Center will be celebrating its 33rd Anniversary on February 14-15th. The two days will be filled with pelota (Joko Garbi, Eskuz and Pala), featuring pilotaris from the Euskadiko Pilota Federakuntza and from Kapito Harri in Ustaritz, great food, dancing, tributes and friendship. Sunday's events will include mass celebrated by Aita Lastiri and Bizi Emankorra presentations being made to Jose Marie Miura, Pedro Salaburu and Kaiyet Sorhouet on their life-time contributions to the Center. The Zazpiak Bat Dancers will also perform, with new members making their debut. For complete information including how to pre-pay dinner reservations visit here. As a teaser, here is a great video that was created for the 30th anniversary but is still fun to watch today!
Basque Soccer Friendly
Basque Soccer Friendly announces the launch of its website today. This site is dedicated to providing information about a Basque Soccer Friendly, an international soccer match, featuring a first division La Liga team from the Basque Autonomous Community to be played in Boise, Idaho on July 29, 2015 during the week of Jaialdi. All proceeds from this soccer match will go to the Basque Studies Foundation to fund scholarships and the Basque Studies programming at Boise State University as well as soccer scholarships for Idaho youth provided by the Idaho Youth Soccer Association. Please visit the site to sign up for email updates on the match, as well as pledge your support for the event and the Basque Studies Foundation.
Santa Ageda Festivities
One of our Basque singing traditions is Saint Agatha's eve (Santa Ageda bezpera) on February 4th. The tradition is for singers to go from door to door and either sing, or pray for the deceased at that particular household, in exchange for food. You can learn more about the historical and cultural aspects of the celebration here. This year, festivities will take place on Boise's Basque Block on Thursday February 5th at 6:30pm. All participants are asked to dress in blue and white, the traditional colors of the festival, and lyrics and walking sticks will be provided. The event is open to the public and free of charge. Friends and family are welcome. Ondo pasa!
