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The symbolic hug took place around the sapling of the Tree of Gernika that is growing in Centennial Plaza. This is how the Basque community in Villa Maria will join in the Human Chain that will take place in the Basque Country called by Gure Esku Dago that will unite the cities of Donostia, Bilbao, and Gasteiz.  Other localities like Chascomus and Rosario also organized similar events.  At “Buenos Aires Celebrates the Basque Country” an event was also held on the Avenida de Mayo.

Villa Maria, Argentina.   The event organized by the Euzko Etxea, in Villa Maria, gathered some 50 people at the Centennial Plaza where the sapling of the Tree of Gernika grows, in hopes of expressing their support for the Human Chain that will take place this weekend in the Basque cities of Bilbao, Vitoria-Gasteiz, and Donostia-San Sebastian, organized by Gure Esku Dago.

The event began at 4:30pm with some informative words about Gure Esku Dago, their objectives, and why they are calling for the Human Chain.  Afterwards, club dancers performed an Aurresku that was followed by the club choir singing the National Anthem of Argentina and Gernikako Arbola.  The music gave an emotional framework to the symbolic embrace and so club members and friends surrounded the tree holding hands.

The event concluded to the rhythms of the tamborrada and some typical dances.  The local drummers played the March of San Sebastian and Diana, while the dantzaris invited the audience to join in a Jota.  Silvina Arregui, organizer and coordinator of the event, told EuskalKultura.com that the material filmed during the symbolic hug will be sent to Gure Esku Dago for its diffusion.

This event wasn’t the only message of adherence to the chain from the Argentine Diaspora.  Others also took place at “Buenos Aires Celebrates,” and similar events at Zazpirak Bat in Rosario and Zingirako Euskaldunak in Chascomus.  This weekend, Euskaltzaleak in Buenos Aires will begin its popular Triki-poteo with its own chain in front of their clubhouse.