The Basque culture offers us in December 2024 a wide variety of events for Christmas lovers and those who are not so fond of it. We close a year dedicated to the Basque artists Eduardo Chillida and Néstor Basterretxea.

Christmas brings back its most typical events: Nativity scenes, illuminated cities, New Year’s Eve parties, Ice rinks (Bilbao, Irún, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Zalla), Craft Markets, San Silvestre Races (the one in Beasain is the most international), among others. I suggest you don’t miss the events that in my opinion give the Basque Christmas the most identity: the Olentzero (the Santa Claus of the Basques), the Santo Tomás Fair (popular festival) and the Durango Fair. From the Durango Book and Basque Record Fair in 1965, it has become the showcase of Basque culture in all its range of proposals.

Other key events in Basque culture in December are the International Day of Euskera (the Basque language) and Saint Francis Xavier (both on the 3rd). The Academy of the Basque Language and the Society of Basque Studies are founded (on the 22nd). On December 31st we commemorate the 135th anniversary of the birth of José Miguel Barandiaran, patriarch of Basque culture. The Basque composers Sebastián Iradier (La Paloma), Maurice Ravel (Ravel Concerto) and Barandiaran himself die in December.

Three important events in the history of the Basques are commemorated:

  • 45 years since the return from exile of the Basque president Leizaola. After the departure of the Basque government in the Civil War in 1936.
  • the UN approves the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10th. Its main drafter was René Cassin, a Basque jurist from Bayonne.
  • John Adams (2nd President of the USA) and his son John Quincy Adams (6th President) landed in El Ferrol (Galicia) on December 8, 1779 (245 years in 2024). They celebrated the New Year in O Cebrerio. In January 1780 they traveled and spent the night in Basque lands on their way to Paris.

The best proposals that Basque culture offers for December 2024, which I have selected for you according to my criteria, are:

Basque culture events in San Sebastian and Gipuzkoa 

  • Exhibition “Balenciaga. Character”, 3rd part. Perspective of the couturier’s work, never before seen, and focused on what makes “a Balenciaga” recognizable. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 1st to January 19th, 2025.
  • “Chillida / Balenciaga – Fold the shape” exhibition. Within the framework of the centenary of Eduardo Chillida. Guipuzcoans, friends and with a common philosophical base between the sculptor of air and the couturier of space. Cristobal Balenciaga Museum. From March 22nd to January 5th, 2025.
  • 100 years. The modern and/or the contemporary. Basque art from the 1920s to the present. San Telmo Museum. From April 13th to June 30th, 2026.
  • Perfume at the time of Balenciaga. “The invisible and definitive fashion accessory” according to Chanel. The epitome of luxury. History of modern perfume (1895-1972): fragrances, jewel bottles, boxes and displays, advertising and poetry. Collections of Anne de Thoisy-Dallem, Juanjo Ruiz Crivillé, Benegas perfumery in San Sebastian and the Balenciaga Museum itself. From May 24th to December 8th.
  • The evolution of Basque fashion from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Basque Costume Museum in Rentería. Baroque building Kapitain Etxea. From June 24th to December 31st.
  • Olentzero at the Mirandaola Ironworks in Legazpi. The story of Olentzero and Mari Domingi, and of Napoleon the donkey, through a storyteller about the Basque Christmas. From November 2nd to December 22nd.
  • Ertza 20 years gala. Ertza Konpainia. Selection of the most representative small choreographic pearls with guest artists with whom they have collaborated over the years. Victoria Eugenia Theater. December 7th.
  • Ryoko Aoki (voice) + Aldo Mata (cello). 15th Contemporary Music Circuit. A mix of Eastern and Western music. San Telmo Museum. December 14th.
  • “Messiah” by Handel. The English Concert Orchestra & Choir. Sacred work on the birth, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Kursaal Auditorium. December 18th.
  • El caserío (a zarzuela based on Basque customs). 25th anniversary of Lírica Sasibill. Victoria Eugenia Theatre in San Sebastian. December 20th, 21st and 22nd.
  • Querencia (inclination or tendency to return to important places). Antonio Najarro Company. Spanish Dance in all its styles. Victoria Eugenia Theater. December 27th.

Proposals of Basque culture in Vitoria-Gasteiz and Alava in December 2024

  • María Antonia Proietti, the Italian model. Model of the Alava painters Ignacio Díaz Olano and Fernando Amárica. Museum of Fine Arts of Álava in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th to January 26th, 2025.
  • Trajectories. It shows the work of the three Basque artists Juan de Echevarría, Gustavo de Maeztu and Ángel Olarte. Works from the collection of the Álava Museum of Fine Arts in Vitoria-Gasteiz. From May 15th to January 26th, 2025.
  • 49th edition of the Vitoria-Gasteiz International Theatre Festival. 18 works by Basque creators, 2 of which will be world premieres with companies from the city. Félix Petite Teatro, Jesús Ibáñez de Matauco Teatro and Federico García Lorca Teatro. From October 17th to December 15th.
  • Chillida: Applied uses. Facet of illustrator and creator of two-dimensional shapes and icons. Centenary of his birth. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Artium. From October 25th to February 2nd, 2025.
  • Joëlle Tuerlinckx. The case of the house museum. A disconcerting retrospective in which Tuerlinckx brings together historical works alongside recent proposals. Museum of Contemporary Art of the Basque Country, Artium. From November 15th to May 4th, 2025.
  • Ardoaraba 2024. Food and wine festival. Main squares in the centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz. Rioja Alavesa wines or Alaveses Txakolis. From November 5th to December 7th.
  • Traditional nativity scenes in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Monumental Nativity Scenes in Florida Park, in the Colegio Sagrado Corazón, in Casa del Cordón, in Villa-Suso Palace or in the Nativity Scene Association of Álava. From December 6th to January 7th, 2025.
  • Kebyart. Saxophone Quartet. Musikagileak 2024-2025: Contemporary Music Circuit. Its versatility and interpretative energy have received international recognition. Artium Museoa, Vitoria-Gasteiz. December 20th.
  • Candle Night. 15,000 candles light up every corner of the medieval city. Various entertainment activities: choirs, fireworks, mulled wine… Medieval Quarter of Vitoria-Gasteiz. December 20th.
  • Mazoka 2024. 9th Drawing and Illustration Fair and Market. Montehermoso Cultural Center. December 20th, 21st and 22nd.

Basque culture activities in Bilbao and Biscay in December 2024  

  • Antonio de Guezala. Exhibition of the new collection acquired by the Basque painter. Bilbao Fine Arts Museum. From September 27th until February 2nd, 2025.
  • Hilma af Klint Exhibition. Pioneer in the representation of the invisible. Bilbao Guggenheim Museum. From October 18th until February 2nd, 2025.
  • Punta Galea Challenge – The Big Wave Alliance. Surfing championship in Punta Galea, Biscay. From November 15th to March 31st, 2025.
  • FIOP – Portugalete International Otxote Festival. The only world festival of choral composition for “a capella” Octets. From November 27th to December 1st.
  • Durangoko Azoka. The great fair for Basque culture in Durango: writers, musicians, culture lovers, Basque people, media, publishing houses, record companies, cultural associations and Basque cultural institutions. From December 5th to 8th.
  • Chicago, the Broadway musical in Bilbao. Arriaga Theatre. From December 5th to 29th.
  • The Magic of Voices. New show by Mocedades and Los Panchos. Campos Elíseos Theatre. December 12th.
  • Gabonart – Bilbao Craft Fair. Ceramics, jewelry, toys, leather, wood carving, textiles… and many handcrafted products. Muelle del Arenal. From December 13th to January 5th, 2025.
  • The legend of the kiss. Zarzuela. 100 years since its premiere. Ensanche Choral Mass. Campos Elíseos Theatre. December 14th and 15th.
  • Regatta del Gallo 2024. Sailing regatta during the Christmas holidays under the Bizkaia Bridge, a World Heritage Site. Sestao, Portugalete and Getxo. December 21th.
  • Bilbao is Ballet: Gala and Award. Recognises local classical ballet that has triumphed internationally: Marta Rueda, Roylan Ramos, Mikel del Valle and Andoni Larrabeiti. Euskalduna Palace. December 26th.

I hope you find this careful selection of Basque cultural proposals for December 2024 useful. You can complement your guided tours with Aitor Delgado Tours with this Basque cultural agenda. Contact Aitor, the best local host, for cheerful and exquisite people.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2025!

November 12, 2024