#in this house we stan pre-christian christmas traditions

[guillemelgat]

Advent Calendar Day 11: Olentzero

Euskal tradizio garrantzitsu bat da Olentzero. Olentzero Santaren bezala Eguberrian etortzen da, baina oso pertsona desberdina da. Histori baten arabera jentila omen da, eta kristautasuna Euskal Herrira heldu zenean, hura izan ezik jentil guztia ihesi ziren. Histori bestiak umeentzat jolastuak egiten zituen ikazkin jatorra zela esaten du, eta sutik umeek salbatu ondoren, maitagarriek hilezkortu zutela. Gaur egun, umeei opariak ekartzen ditu. Herri askotan, jendeak Olentzero panpina egiten du eta gero eramaten du herriko leku guztietan, Olentzero kantak abesten; azkenean, panpina erretzen du. Olentzero oso tradizio interesgarria da paganotasuna eta kristautasunaren artean trantsizioa irudikatzen delako.

Olentzero is an important Basque tradition. Olentzero comes on Christmas like Santa, but he’s a very different person. According to one story, he is said to be a jentil (Basque giant), and when Christianity arrived in the Basque Country, all the jentilak fled, except him. Another story says that he was a kind charcoal burner who would make toys for the children, and after saving children from a fire, the fairies made him immortal. Today, he brings children presents. In many towns, people make Olentzero effigies and carry them throughout the town, singing Olentzero carols; at the end, they burn the effigy. Olentzero is a really interesting because he represents a transition between Paganism and Christianity.