Here are the lovelys at their Basque dance program. We taught the kids more festival dances...dances that large groups do at every gathering of Basque people. If you go to one of these functions, people do not let you stay in your chair. The dances are usually pretty easy for adults to pick up and so fun. Anyway, it was kind of nutty merging the groups, but they did it! And, most of the teachers just knelt in the middle to assist and encourage. Since you are all dying to know the names of the costume pieces, I will tell you! The shoes are called abarkak and they are leather and expensive. They both needed new pairs this year. Luckily, they last forever, so hopefully Nathan will be able to wear Riley's and Lauren will wear Nathan's. Nathan's hat is called a txapela. He has a sash around his waist, it is black and called a gerriko. Otherwise, he has a peasant coat and pants on. Riley's costume has no special names. But she has a headscarf, red satin dress, black apron and abarkak. After the dance show, Olentzero came to visit all the children and brought them presents. He came in on a chair carried on the shoulders of 4 men. The kids sing a song to make him come...it is very sweet. This concludes your daily lesson of all things Basque.