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Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The revelry of the old part of Pamplona reached the South Atlantic coasts again to provide a break in the cold July temperatures with the climate of San Fermin.  Once again the Basque and Navarrese clubs were adorned in red and white, as the plazas and streets to celebrate the day of the co-patron of Navarre, geographically far but near to their hearts.  Here we share with our readers a summary of the festivities that took place this year throughout the Argentinean Diaspora.

[Members of the Gure Txokoa Basque club in Rauch, in the province of Buenos Aires, celebrating San Fermin on the July 7 in the multi-purpose room of the OSECAC.  The program began at 21:30 with dinner that also included Basque dancing.  After dinner there was a public dance with music provided by Fernando Puglia (photo EE)]

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[In the Union Vasca club Basque labguage students got together with those at the university.  The festivities took place on July 7 from 10:30am when the first mus games began, always in Basque.  At around noon the txupinazo took place followed by lunch.  During the meal there were surprises.  One of the bulls broke into the room, startling the diners.  According to Basque professor Rosana Entizne, “all of the sudden the bulls – the youngest members of the club in costume, came out of the encierro during the meal and sang and danced.  Later, while we were all dancing, another bull, a bigger one this time, one of the txiki’s fathers, came in.  During the afternoon we held the mus tournament.”  On July 14 to celebrate the Day of the Ikurriña, there was another event that also gathered Basque students from both the club and university.  On this occasion students read and wrote stories to later share with those present (photo EE)]

[Basques in Tandil also had their festival.  Members of Gure Etxea got together on July 8 to share a religious ceremony, dances in the plaza and lunch.  Club president, Esteban Kain, was in charge of welcoming the public and to launch the txupinazo from the club’s balcony (photo EE)]

[In the city of Ayacucho, San Fermin was celebrated on Sunday July 15 with a complete day of activities.  To being there were three women honored with the “El alegre despertar” (Joyful Awakening).  Honorees were Marta Echeverria Olano, Haydee Iribarren Etchart, and Marta Valenzuela Elzaurdia.  Following, Fr. Miguel Angel Paris offered mass that was followed by a performance of traditional dances by the local dantzaris accompanied by a dance group from Tandil dancing in front of the church.   Afterwards lunch was served followed by a dance that lasted all afternoon (photo EE)]

[Festivities in the La Plata club took place outdoors at the Basque clubhouse.  In the morning of July 8 there was mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe followed by dancing outside the church.  As part of the event, there was also a tribute at the sapling of the Tree of Gernika, preceding the opening of San Fermin.  Club President Javier Clua, and Mayor Rosita Ibarguren, were in charge of launching the txupinazo from the club’s balcony.  After lunch there was more dancing, a performance by the choir and chocolate and churros were served.  It should be noted that local Mayor Pablo Buera also participated in the celebration and addressed those in attendance.  Accompanying the La Plata club were also delegations from Cañuelas and Lomas de Zamora (photos EE)]

[A large crowd celebrated San Fermin at the Navarraese club of Mar del Plata, who celebrated on July 8 with a full slate of activities.  During the banquet, that began at noon with a typical paella, nothing was missing, not children’s games, nor songs, nor good wine.  Dancers demonstrated their dancing and other talents, as seen in this photo (photo CN)]

[San Fermin was also celebrated in the Navarrese club in Buenos Aires with typical paella on July 7.  This year tainted however, by the loss of a friend of the club, a few days earlier.  In the photo, Crisanto Ayanz, president of the Federation of Navarrese clubs of Argentina and Chile along with children of the Navarrese club of Buenos Aires (photo CN)]