We all know Santa, but did you know that
Basque people actually have their own version of the most famous beardy guy and
who does not look like his usual representation at all! Here comes the story of
Olentzero, a kind of a Basque Santa.
The tale of Olentzero takes place in
Larraun, Navarra and says that he had so many eyes on his face as days in the
year and that he would visit every town every New Year's Eve carrying away children
who were awake….
It is surprising to discover that actually
many people believe that he could have existed, unlike the red-suited
grandfather. However, it is not as strong a belief as the one of Reyes Magos with
all the myth of the star and the three kings looking for a poor new born baby
in Bethlehem. As a matter of fact, Olentzero has really very little of
supernatural power except from the fact that when he dies, a fairy brings him
back to life. He is depicted as a rather normal human being, a coalman, a bit gluttonous,
slightly drunk and covered with coal stains all over his body.
The story says that a beautiful yellow-haired
and bright-eyed fairy lived in the forests of the Basque Country many years ago.
Like all fairies she cared for people and was accompanied by creatures like
goblins called prakagorri (red trousers, one of the rooms in Urune takes its
name after them) who helped her in all her work. One day the fairy was
traveling across the mountains and while she was combing her hair by a stream, prakagorris
told her that there was something moving among the ferns. The fairy was highly
surprised as she did not understand how the humans could have abandoned it. So
the fairy told the baby:"your name will be Olentzero, because it is a
wonderful thing to have found you.”And I hereby give you the gift of strength,
courage and love, as long as you live." Then the fairy picked up the child
and took him to an old house at the edge of the woods where a man and a woman
who did not have children lived as she knew that they would be very happy to get
the baby, she left it by the door so that they could find him.
When Olentzero grew up he felt the urge
to help people who needed it. He remembered that in the nearby village there
was a house inhabited by children who did not have anyone. For a strange
reason, and maybe due to uncertain whereabouts of his own origin, Olentzero
felt a strange union with those children and wishing to make them happier, he
started the tradition of bringing them presents, a custom that has survived up
to our times giving a bit of joy to all Basque children.
But one day, and for some sad reasons
that should not be mentioned here, Olentzero died and his fairy friend came to
save him granting him the following words:
"Olentzero, you have been a
good man, full of faith and of a good heart. You have dedicated all your life
doing things for others, and you even gave up your own life to save others. Therefore,
I do not want you to die. I want you to live forever. From now on you will make
toys and other gifts for unhappy and abandoned children from all corners of the
Basque Country".
And this is what happened. In the middle
of winter, at the end of each year, Olentzero visits all the towns and villages
of the Basque Country delivering toys to children who do not have parents or
grandparents who would take care of them. And in a wider sense, children of all
parts of the Basque Country celebrate the arrival of Olentzero singing songs
and spreading messages of love.
And should you not believe us, come to
the Basque Country on the Christmas Eve night and find out yourself. You might
even come across Olentzero himself!
(This is one of the stories I have heard
over my 10-year-long living with the Basque people and sharing their wisdom and traditions)
And from hotel Urune, we would like to
wish you all the best for the incoming 2013.
Marta Anna Sadowska
