O for Olentzero

If you are interested in the Basque Country, it is important to know some things about this region. The Basque Country is rich in heritage and history! In fact, this region has a multitude of secrets to discover during your trip. For example, you can take advantage of an excursion to the Basque Country to discover the history of Olentzero. This word refers to an ancient character who settled in Europe during the 20th century.

In fact, the name Olentzero refers to a character in the form of a coalman. He appears at the end of December to announce the arrival of the good weather. But you can also hear Olentzero used to refer to the log placed in the chimneys at the end of the year.

Olentzero is a character depicted without gifts, not to be confused with Father Christmas for example. He is solitary, rather poor and dirty looking, but his role is to announce the arrival of the winter solstice.

This emblematic character is therefore very important in Basque life and Olentzero is a character celebrated throughout the Basque country during several festivities. If you want to discover them, we recommend that you come and enjoy the shows organised during the month of December. Olentzero is a character with a positive message for the coming year and the next few days, so it is important to take part in the festivities in the street to get a feel for this period.

If you haven’t yet decided when you want to go on holiday in the Basque Country, we recommend that you check out the end of the year to celebrate Olentzero!