This year, there is something new: This will be the ‘Apple Day of the Seven Provinces’ in Hendaye for the first time, as explained by Jesús Arzallus, a member of the Whales Association. “We found a Zuberotar, a neighborhood in Iruri that was starting to make cider. Then we saw that it was possible to make cider day with cider from the seven provinces,” says Arzallus.

In fact, if we have always associated the cider tradition with Gipuzkoa in particular, it is in Lapurdía that the Baleares have brought a surprise: Those who produce cider at home are more than they think, they have found about six cider makers who are doing it. Even in Lower Navarre, starting with the Irulegi arnoury and driven by local people, they are making and selling cider. “There is tradition and there is also a desire to develop the activity,” says the member of Baleak.

The Saturday Date

One of the most successful initiatives of the year is the Whales Cider Day. “It has a ‘hook’ to attract people, it’s attracted to cider and cider day is very popular,” explains Arzallus.

As last year, the organizers hope to occupy the Plaza de la República this year, for which they have organized a wide program: from five o’clock in the afternoon there will be applause, bertsolaris, popular sports, cake, and of course cider. Next to each cider house, there will also be associations in Hendaye offering pintxos to eat.