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BCC Women's Club Eguberri Besta and Mass
Please join our friends at the BCC Women’s Club for their annual Eguberri Besta, Christmas party this Sunday, December 8th at the Basque Cultural Center. The festivities begin at 10:30am with mass which will be livestreamed, followed by lunch and a visit from Santa Claus. Attendees are asked to please bring a wrapped gift for your child with their name printed clearly. The Women’s Club is also collecting other toy donations in support of the SSF Fire Department Toy Drive. For complete information, click here.
Basque Museum and Cultural Center Eguberri Azoka
Don’t forget that the Basque Museum and Cultural Center’s Eguberriko Azoka, Basque Christmas Market is this weekend on December 8th from 11:00am-4:00pm. This third annual event will not only provide a chance to do some Christmas shopping, but also to enjoy performances by the Boiseko Gasteak, Txantxangorriak, and the Biotzetik Basque choir. There will also be plenty of tasty treats. For an idea of the vendors participating this year, click here.
Johnny Curutchet 1946-2024
We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Johnny Curutchet on November 26th. Johnny was not only an important part of the San Francsico Basque community, having served as president of both the Basque Cultural Center and the San Francsico Basque Club, but he also played in the Klika, was part of the Elgarrekin Choir, as well as danced with the Zazpiak Bat Dancers, and loved to play pilota. Johnny was also well-known across Basque America thanks to his talents as a Bertsolari. His love for this aspect of the Basque culture brought him honors from the National Endowment for the Humanities, NABO, as well as in competitions both here and in the Basque Country. Johnny often traveled to Basque picnics and events, supporting singers at mass, or even leading the songs, as well as performing Bertsos, or playing with the Klika, and never asking for any renumeration for his contributions. He was a humble, huge supporter of the Basque culture in all its facets and did all he could to promote and maintain those traditions. He will be greatly missed. On behalf of everyone at NABO, we extend our sincerest condolences to his wife Mary, and sons Thomas and Michael and their families, as well as to his many friends. May he rest in peace – Goian Bego. Visitation will be held at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary on Friday, December 6th from 4:00pm-8:00pm with a Rosary beginning at 7pm. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 7th at 12:00pm at St. Veronica’s Church. Johnny’s obituary is available here. Read more about Johnny and see bertsos offered by fellow bertsolaris on the occasion of his passing here.
The bertso accompanying this gallery is by Maddalen Arzallus.
First Friday Dinner in Gooding
The Gooding Basque Association will hold its First Friday Dinner this Friday, December 6th from 6:00pm-8:00pm. This month’s menu includes Lamb chops, Lamb Shanks, Meatballs, Basque Rice, Soup, Salad, Basque Bread and lots of yummy desserts! Cost of the meal is $22/adults $20/Seniors (62+) $10 Child (12&under). For more information, visit them on Facebook.
International Day of the Basque Language
December 3rd marked the 75th Anniversary of Nazioarteko Euskararen Eguna or the International Day of the Basque Language. It is celebrated on December 3rd because that is the feast day of Saint Francis Xavier who spoke Basque and taught it to locals while serving in Eastern and Southern Asia. It is also said that his final words were in Basque. In this spirit, we share a message from NABO Euskara Coordinator, Dr. Edurne Arostegui, about NABO’s Spring 2025 Euskara Classes. For complete information, click here.
