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Santa Claus is the undisputed star of the Christmas holidays. Yet, although this may sound obvious to many, it does not respond to a universal truth.
Only in Spain, a dozen figures steal the show from the famous old man of the North Pole with the iconic red clothes. Among these, an elder man from the Basque tradition is worth mentioning. In the autonomous community of northern Spain, children eagerly await gifts from an old gentleman known as Olentzero. Of robust appearance, he has the habit of wine and smoking, and works the charcoal for living; in short, he is a legend whose origins are rooted in the Basque culture.
Who is Olentzero, then? And how does he differ from his “colleague” Santa Claus?
An alternative “Santa Claus”
Olentzero is a rough but good-natured character, normally depicted with a cap on his head and a pipe in his mouth. The clothes he wears are blackened by coal and his house is in the Basque Mountains. To distribute gifts to the children of his village, he travels on a donkey…
Here is a brief list of his differences compared to Santa Claus: there are no sleighs, no reindeer, no North Pole, no red suit. Olentzero is an elderly Basque devoted to his work, a real flesh-and-blood man, at least according to what some legends report.
This character is popular in the Basque region of Euskal Herria, in northern Spain, on the border with France. There, every evening of December 24th, Olentzero will appear in the homes of citizens to reward children who have been good throughout the year. It is therefore easy to understand the tie between Christmas Day and the appearance of this very unique character.
Just like Santa Claus, Olentzero also enjoys a pleasant company at his side. His better half is called Mari Domingui and, in the popular imagination, she is represented in loose traditional clothes and with a characteristic swan-shaped hat. Despite the birth of her character is rather recent (1990s), entire poems and songs are dedicated to her, and the enthusiasm Basque children show for her equals that for her husband.
It has been said that in the Basque collective imagination, Olentzero is an elderly charcoal burner and a friend of children. However, several are the versions of his story. In fact, this Christmas character has undergone an evolution over time, and the numerous legends about him have been adapted to modernity.
Olentzero: one character, many legends
Many legends revolve around him. Olentzero was born from the combination of Basque and pre-Christian mythological elements, and later underwent important influences from Christianity. This syncretism has given rise to sensational stories.
Among these, it is worth mentioning that of the “gentle giants“. According to a legend, thousands of years ago giants lived undisturbed in the mountainous lands of Euskal Herria, and one day, after sighting a light in the sky that announced the birth of Christ, they took their own lives for fear of incurring a terrible punishment; all but Olentzero. He was the only one who did not fear the coming of Christ and welcomed the good news.
Another myth links his fate to a benevolent fairy. She found him abandoned while still an infant in the woods of the Navarrese Pyrenees and entrusted him to a loving elderly couple who lived in the mountains. Growing up, Olentzero learned his father’s job and became a charcoal burner. When his foster parents died, he remained alone.
Apparently gruff in spirit, Olentzero was a kind-hearted person. Year after year, he became more and more acclaimed by the children of the village for his great generosity. On Christmas Day, he got into the habit of coming down from the mountains to give them hand-carved wooden toys. This explains how he managed to earn their affection.
A further myth describes Olentzero as the announcer of the winter solstice. With the advent of Christianity and the birth of Christ, his figure was then linked to the Christian holiday par excellence.
Yet another legend depicts him as a horror character! In the 18th century, it was rumoured that Olentzero would cut the throats of children caught still awake at night… The stories about him are, therefore, innumerable.
Celebrations, parades and bonfires!
In the Basque region, Christmas holidays are enlivened by celebrations, competitions and parades in which Olentzero is the protagonist. On December 24th and 25th, the Concurso de Olentzeros is held in Lesaka, in Plaza Zaharra, followed by the parade of the Olentzero winner of the competition.
The competition is divided into categories by age group: up to 10 years old, from 11 to 15 years old, and from 16 years old onwards, and consists of a sculptural competition with Olentzero as its “muse”. His sculpture is carried on the shoulders of some members of the young team. For the evaluation of the winning team, the jury also considers the singing performance and the clothing of the children, who are strictly required to wear traditional Basque costumes. Once the winning team has been declared, the parade can begin through the streets of Lesaka, accompanied by a musical band.
Also interesting is the tradition that takes place in Ermua, not far from Lesaka. There, the transition to the new year is celebrated with the bonfire of an Olentzero made of straw, wood, and drapes. Once again, the symbolism of this act can be traced back to pre-Christian beliefs and rites, later mixed with Christian ones. This fire represents, in fact, a way to wish the arrival of a prosperous year, marking the transition from the old to the new. It is no coincidence that in some places Olentzero is better known as “Onenzaro”, which means “good weather”.
Christmas holidays in Euskal Herria are, therefore, full of very particular traditions in which Santa Claus is set aside in favour of another figure, typical of the Basque tradition, who personifies goodness, generosity, and hope.
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