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Happy International Day of the Basque Language!
Today is the International Day of the Basque Language. Every year on December 3rd, Euskara is celebrated all around the world.
The date for this holiday was established in 1948 by Eusko Ikaskuntza, the Society for Basque Studies. They chose December 3rd because it’s the feast day of Saint Francis Xavier, co-patron saint of the Basque province of Nafarroa (along with San Fermín).
Euskara Thriving in the Basque Country with Euskaraldia
A very interesting initiative started last Friday in the Basque Country.
While Basques in the U.S. were doing our Black Friday shopping, some Basques in the Basque Country were starting their days with an initiative called Euskaraldia.
Euskaraldia is a project in which people in all 7 provinces in the Basque Country are encouraged to speak more Euskara, the Basque language, over an 11-day period.
Beginning November 23rd and ending on December 3rd, Euskaraldia has seen thousands of participants sign up on their website. People either commit to being an Euskara speaker, Ahobizi, or an Euskara listener, Bellariprest, during these 11 days.
Best Holiday Gift Giving Ideas for Basque Americans
The holidays are fast approaching, and maybe you’re wondering what to get the Basques in your life.
Or maybe you just want some Basque-themed goodies for yourself this year!
I’ve put together a list of all of our most popular products so you can see what others in the Basque community are buying this holiday season.
Basque Recipes to Inspire Your Thanksgiving Menu
The holidays are just around the corner and that means a lot of us are thinking about menu planning.
What to serve all of the people coming over for Thanksgiving? What to bring to your holiday potluck?
Or if you’re having a small gathering, what to make that’s different enough from everyday cooking but doesn’t take too much effort?
One year for Thanksgiving, we had a goat leg at the dinner table instead of turkey. We have a small immediate family, and no one was volunteering to cook a turkey for just 5 people.
So Aita thought the holiday would be a great opportunity to serve up that goat leg his friend had just given him.
Yes, my dad has friends that just bring him animal parts — the perks of knowing ranchers.
In the spirit of the holidays, Mom cooked the goat.
Let’s just say that was the first and last time we had goat for Thanksgiving.
While I wouldn’t recommend the goat per se, I’m all about mixing up the traditional American Thanksgiving menu with your own cultural dishes.
So if you want to work a few Basque items into your meal this Thanksgiving, I’ve put together a list of recipes to give you some ideas.
7 Videos on Basque Sheepherders in the United States
I fell down a rabbit hole on the internet this week.
You know when you search for one thing and then end up spending hours clicking link after related link?
That’s what I’ve been doing with Basque sheepherding videos.
I love learning about my Basque heritage but especially when it comes to Basques in the United States. And for a lot of our family histories, that means tracing our roots back to Basque sheepherders in the West.
Why This Basque American Walked the Camino de Santiago
This time last year, I finished walking the Camino de Santiago.
I headed out from Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port in the Basque Country, crossed the Pyrenees on Day 1, and kept walking for 36 consecutive days until I reached the Galician coast at Finisterre on the evening of October 31st.
I covered a distance of almost 600 miles in a little over a month. Walking by myself every day with everything I needed in a 20 pound backpack (I could have packed lighter but your girl likes her trail snacks).
For those of you who don’t know what the Camino de Santiago is, a brief introduction: The Camino is a Catholic pilgrimage that dates back to the Middle Ages (which in the last few decades has been co-opted as an ultra toursity walking holiday and fitness challenge).
People walk (or cycle or ride horseback) from all over Europe to the Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of Saint James, one of Jesus’ Apostles, are said to be held.
The Camino has become a bit of a rite of passage for some of us in the Basque diaspora, especially for those of us whose families come from regions near the pilgrimage routes.
When I was walking the Camino, I even ran into another Basque American woman from San Francisco. Small world!
Featured On
When I moved away for college, I left behind my Basque American community and felt very disconnected from my Basque identity. An isolation I imagine many in the diaspora may feel at one point or another.
My hope is that Hella Basque can help Basques in the diaspora feel more connected to their heritage, whether or not they have physical ties to a Basque community.
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