Aberri Eguna — Basque National Day

Basque Homeland Day in Donostia

Aberri Eguna, established in 1932 by the PNV, is celebrated every Easter Sunday across the Basque Country. In Donostia the day becomes a cultural festival celebrating Basque identity in all its expressions.

The Donostia programme

• Gathering on Paseo de La Concha — the largest in Gipuzkoa, from 11:00
• Groups performing traditional Basque dance (aurresku, soka-dantza) in the old town squares
• Exhibition of bertsolarismo — the Basque art of oral poetic improvisation
• Concerts of Basque folk music on the Boulevard from 12:00
• The ikurriña flying from municipal buildings throughout the day

Bertsolarismo: the Basque oral art form

Bertsolarismo is the Basque tradition of improvising verses (bertsoak) before an audience on a proposed theme. Bertsolaris compete in speed, rhyme and argumentative coherence. One of Europe's most singular oral art forms, declared Cultural Heritage by the Basque Government.