Basque Festival
Today
Today, participation in events like Basque festivals is a way of exercising ones ability to embrace their Basque heritage. With the modernization and homogeneity of culture in the 21st century, it may be easy for some with Basque heritage to not fully partake in their families rituals and traditions; participating in dances and travelling to Basque country in Spain or France is a way of displaying to others that you wish to carry on the legacy of your ancestors. Being Basque has adapted to the modern environment, with the festivals offering more information online and Basque scholars pushing for the preservation of the Basque language through courses designed to be taken online.
LEARN the Basque language online:
An article by Dr. Gloria Totoricagüena states how events such as Basque festivals serve today as a bridge between the cultural gap between both west coast and east coast Basque communities, along with the young and the old. Its author discusses how opening the Basque culture up to outsiders is extremely important since it is often difficult to get the youth involved; but, if it is seen as a 'hip' thing to do in the area, they are more likely to foster loyalty to the Basque way of life in the following generations. The author suggests that, going forward, being 'Basque' may become something that anyone can do, not necessarily something exclusive to those with Basque ancestry. People who appreciate and desire to commit to the peaceful, communal, nature-loving Basque way of life may be welcomed as 'Basque' going forward, in an effort to preserve the culture (Totoricaguena).
Basque festival today seek to bring the events from a public sphere such as a courtyard to an area more intimate, such as a clubhouse. Although by moving most of the events to a private indoor location may seem counter-intuitive to the established goal of expanding the reach and appreciation of Basque culture, Elko, Nevada's Basque website proclaims that this shift seeks to make outsiders feel as if they are gaining a more personalized and exclusive experience. Instead of something one can walk by and observe, participants have to commit to some degree by entering a building and hopefully be more enveloped in the culture (Martinez). In addition, observation of newspaper articles covering recent Basque festivals of the 2010s reveal that many Basque communities have carved out blocks-worth of areas in cities resembling 'Chinatowns' in other areas, and holding festivals within these spaces encourages the return of outsiders to the Basque bars and restaurants the events are held in (Kruesi).
