Olentzero, the Basque Santa Claus

[@josephanthro]

Just discovered your channel today. I too am a Basque American and I've been trying to find resources to learn more about my heritage and it's culture; and I am so grateful I found this. I've actually be integrating the Basque language into fantasy novels I published as a way of trying to learn some vocab. Loved the vid here on Olentzero, can't wait to learn more about my heritage from you!

[@haviksan]

Add me to the vocal contigents that want to hear more basque myths

[@igortxo36]

Olenrzero joan zaigu , mendira lanera .Intentzioarekin , ikatz egitera . 🎶

[@jamesknepper2209]

Thank for sharing this! I actually am Basque-American myself, and it's interesting because I grew up hearing about the modern day version, as well as a merged version of your two older examples. It's a little darker though than your examples. I heard that he was the last of a race of giants that came from the sky itself and rested on the top of a mountain. When the giants tried to befriend the Basque's(or humankind), the Basque's attacked the giants. The violence and ignorance of humans caused the giants to return into the sky. But Olentzero was the only giant to stay, because he believed in the potential goodness of humankind. Olentzero eventually became a blacksmith and fire builder, and though he found himself often saddened by how humans treated each other which lead him to drink. Still though Olentzero persisted, and and it was actually him that taught humans/Basque how to build fire or the first time. One winter a group of children tried to build a fire of their own, and caught the house they were inside aflame. Olentzero ran inside the building to save them, and he was successful, but sadly he died in the process. It was winter next year when he came back unexpectedly, his skin was burnt red and his eyes glowed like embers. The next winter and every winter following, Olentzero checked on each child that he had sacrificed himself to save. Every child who was kind and listened to their parents was gifted an extra year of life. But for each child who went astray and acted out/was cruel to others, he would use his sickle to slit their throats and ended the continuation of their lineage. My family's heritage is from Bizkaia, a little NE of Bilbao along the coast. It's interesting to hear these variations of his origins and reason for returning. I hope this wasn't too morbid for you.

[@paulapenna-loveyourvoice]

Wow! That sounds like some ancient biblical tales that I’ve heard of extra terrestrial giants.

[@liliadeanda5859]

Oh thanks for this. What can you tell me about the Basajaun? I heard about this giant in the first movie of a Spanish movie trilogy (The Invisible Guardian). Thanks for any information you can provide.

[@Buckles_thebeaver]

They're hairy beings who lives in the Basque forest

[@gbereterbide6440]

Thank you. I am of Basque roots as well.

[@zzombie23]

I'm not convinced by your comment that introducing Mari Domingi was hetero-normative. She represents femininity and the coming of winter, and only in some places is known as Olentzero's wife (its really not her primary role).

[@Chadwickheiberg]

You live in San Francisco now? Im Basque looking for resources here I live in San FRan just moved here recently

[@ellobo4211]

Eguberri on.. Basque Australian ..

[@JTheTeach]

so...why were the basque celebrating Christmas before being Christians?

[@HellaBasque]

Winter solstice celebration

[@suguspjr]

Before converting to Christianity, Basque peoples have their own mythology, deities and celebrations. Olentzero is an ancient basque character that survived and is still part of contemporary Basque traditions.

[@atheodorasurname6936]

I read a theory that the Basque and other legends of giants could go all the way back to a time when modern people first encountered Neanderthal people and they collaborated on raising megaliths.

[@catwoman3247]

Great video very interesting 😀 and your channel because I have immediately thought about it in my country how similar it is. 🤔 However, it was not pagan tradition, it is still in many slavic (Russia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Chech, Serbia and so on) countries because it is our slavic heritage not christian or catholic. We still have tradition of buring a hay made puppet which is called in polish "marzanna". We do it to farewell winter and invite spring. We do it after astronomical winter. In Poland we used to have a "dziadek mróz " we can literally translate it to" grandfather of freeze" , before santa claus you can check. Maybe there are some information about it in English. In small villages some people still use this name. So ...maybe Basque language is an old forgotten trace of slavic people and transformation of their language in that old times. It is just my humble theory from language nerd. I really like your channel. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@neutron11]

Gora olentzero!!!!

[@xme7415]

Ba bai neska...euskadi ta politika beti lotuta!!!! Regarding olentzero and "his" wife....Olentzero will be out of the closet soon!! 😉 the first outed Christmasman worldwide!! That would be again... Something different from France and Spain 🤣 ondo izan.

[@Astepatatimekvarn]

ALWAYS give a thumbs ☝. It takes a lot of time to do a video only a second to show appreciation.😀

[@HellaBasque]

I appreciate that!

[@deborahalbertson8166]

How about if she gets back to people on the videos she makes? We would all appreciate that too! She has not responded to most people's comments in her videos. She wants to make sure you like her but she doesn't give a shit if she likes any of us!

[@deborahalbertson8166]

Don't bring it in as mythology. The Basque kept really good record so put it in as fact or nothing at all. You are confusing people by calling it mythology and putting a story to it. It's either Truth or fiction at this point!

[@deborahalbertson8166]

Who are you kidding? You mean he's pretending to be nice. He has a mask on and playing somebody else. Okay, we don't trust people who come in as other people. Stop reporting on this demon knowledge.

[@deborahalbertson8166]

Gross..... I'm so sick of hearing about anything mythology. Knock it off! This has screwed up this entire world !!!!!!!!!!

[@ftlkh9608]

olentzero begi gorri ... edana edo porru bat errerik .. nehork ez daki...