The exercise will be held from 15 to 25 May 2025, for eleven days, as announced by Topagunea, the Department of Culture of the Basque and Basque Government of the Government of Navarra. With this date they also want to rotate Euskaraldia with the Korrika that is held every two years, and so each year it would be one or the other.
They consider that Euskera is effective and involves changes in language habits. It also explains why the date changes: as a social exercise, in spring there are more people going down the street, so it is more effective.
In addition, the organization has stressed that the veneer used to participate in the activity will look more tender in spring: “Veneer is an essential element in the exercise. The veneer allows the same exercise, showing an attitude of speaking or listening in Basque, which considerably reduces the linguistic stress”.
“Change language habits”
After the three editions of Euskaraldia, studies have been carried out on the results and, as explained by the president of Topagunea, Irati Iciar, “have shown that throughout Euskal Herria thousands of citizens have changed their linguistic customs and have made a leap to Euskera thanks to Euskaraldia: family, friends, work centers and relations with strangers”.
According to Iciar, the use of Euskera has increased with exercise “and has normalized and socially legitimized some hitherto unusual uses”. According to the data provided, talks between Basques have increased from 63.9% to 78.9% after the exercises, which has reached 85.9% throughout the exercises.
Likewise, with Euskera, Euskaldunes widened the first word in Euskera more easily, as explained by Iciar: those who previously spoke in Euskera were 55.8% before the exercise and 75.9% after the exercise, or those who held Euskera in the bilingual talks were 44.6% before and 76.6% after.
According to the Minister of Culture of the Basque Government, Euskaraldia has a broad consensus, and this is one of its main strengths. “In Euskaraldia there are people or entities that can have different perspectives in many areas. This convergence has a multiplier force that serves to attract many who are far from the Basque country.”
For Javi Arakama, director of Euskarabide, the objective of Euskaraldia is to consolidate or change the linguistic habits in favor of the Basque: “That is your goal and that is limited. Therefore, Euskaraldia is not the cure for all the needs and ailments of the Basque Country”. It has also stressed that the organization is complex and has provided an innovative and interesting governance model: “We are convinced that the cooperation and practical adherence of citizens, institutions and entities are the fundamental basis for the progress of the revitalization process of the Basque Country.”