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INPRIMATU
Basque International Day in Navarre
  • The International Day of the Basque Country (ENE) was created by Eusko Ikaskuntza in 1949 to “claim the universal value of the Basque Country” and in the twenty-first century, adapting to new changes and social challenges, EI has maintained the Basque language with great enthusiasm in all its areas of work. It is usually celebrated on December 3, the day of the death of Francisco Javier in memory, because according to legend, he murmured his last words in mother tongue. This year it will be held under the motto “Bide berriak, bide berriak”.
Germán Gorraiz López 2019ko abenduaren 03a

Although it is a day to celebrate, reclaim and express its commitment to the Basque Country, it is still far from the normalization of the use of the Basque Country. Thus, although there are 300,000 bilingual individuals more than 30 years ago in the CAV, 20% of the Basque population gives priority to the use of Euskera and 8.9% between two languages, with the objective of increasing the use of Euskera

Unfortunately, in the cradle of the Lingua Vasconum Primittiae, in the Old Kingdom of Navarra, the emigrant from the Basque Country is wobbling, because in addition to the media resonance of Nafarroa Oinez, the harsh reality shows that in Navarre the expansion of the Basque Country goes towards stagnation, although in the last 15 years it has experienced an increase. Given the uncertain situation of the Basque Country in Navarre, it is concluded that we need a deep reflection and constructive criticism, since the weakness of the Basque Country requires us to live in Euskera, that is, the Euskaldunes, updating, perfecting and expanding their use and the Castilanospeakers, with enthusiasm for learning Euskera, because the key to the future is the use of the Basque.

Therefore, avoiding the Basque Country in Navarre will require a huge effort on the part of the Euskaldunes and, in order to avoid this “fossilization”, it is necessary to increase the budgets for the Basque Country and for the Basque Country to be visible in all areas of everyday life, so that the Basque Country becomes a cultural good and an instrument of union for those of us who live in Navarre. In this sense, this year’s “Euskaraldia” campaign has been an effective driving force, once prejudices, fears and shame have been discarded, it has come to remain in the “universe of the Basque Country” and once the results obtained have been seen.