The "outlawed" Basque Santa: Olentzero
> You know, Olentzero is a little controversial at our Basque Center, believe it or not. There are a handful of people who say that because they didn't know about him during their childhood on the French side, he is not Basque, he is just something made up recently. And, they say he is confusing for our kids, who only know Santa.
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This is not new. Here happened the same with the Catholic Magician Kings. At least during our chilhood in the Franco regime the Olentzero was moreless "outlawed". In fact I remember the 24th at night a group of people in Basque clothes going from home to home sighning, they were the Olentzero for us. Obviously our parents didn't dare to explain it to us (in fact I believe they were singing to collect money for prisoners) because no parent could risk his/her son to be caught in a indiscretion. Well, besides, we went every 24th in the morning from home to home in little groups of two or three children (moreless as in your Haloween). We sang a Christmas song in every door and the people gave us some money. That was the happier part of the Christmas, even more than the toy gifts of the Magician Kings Day (that was the January 6th.)
Then, in my chilhood we had yet to days, the Olentzero, although "outlawed" in the part of the pertsonage, was celebrated massively and that day was the happier day, with all the children going from home to home singing. The towns were full of colour. I remember that my mother started a month before to collect coins for the 24th, Olentzero's day.
Oh, the past book fair in Durango I bought an Olentzero tale, the best I've found. With pictures that the grandfather said they were as pictures (refering to those big pictures to put in the wall) our children. This is moreless the same you have in the NABO page this year. If I found how to scan it, I'll send you. My children like it a lot.
Oh, about the "outlawing" of our Olentzero, Basque Santa, Enrique Villar, who was the Governmental Delegate in the Basque Country with Aznar until past Christmas, was also the Alava Governor in the last Franco and post-Franco times. He was the one who send the Riot Police against the Olentzero in vitoria in the 70's. (So when they recovered the Vitoria-Gasteiz mayor for PP in 1999 the first Alonso made was to change the Christmas caravan from the 24th -Olentzero- to January 5th -Magician Kings- but it ended badly as one of the horses ended mad in the middle throwing his King out, etc.)
Zorionak eta Urte Berri on.
mendi
>
This is not new. Here happened the same with the Catholic Magician Kings. At least during our chilhood in the Franco regime the Olentzero was moreless "outlawed". In fact I remember the 24th at night a group of people in Basque clothes going from home to home sighning, they were the Olentzero for us. Obviously our parents didn't dare to explain it to us (in fact I believe they were singing to collect money for prisoners) because no parent could risk his/her son to be caught in a indiscretion. Well, besides, we went every 24th in the morning from home to home in little groups of two or three children (moreless as in your Haloween). We sang a Christmas song in every door and the people gave us some money. That was the happier part of the Christmas, even more than the toy gifts of the Magician Kings Day (that was the January 6th.)
Then, in my chilhood we had yet to days, the Olentzero, although "outlawed" in the part of the pertsonage, was celebrated massively and that day was the happier day, with all the children going from home to home singing. The towns were full of colour. I remember that my mother started a month before to collect coins for the 24th, Olentzero's day.
Oh, the past book fair in Durango I bought an Olentzero tale, the best I've found. With pictures that the grandfather said they were as pictures (refering to those big pictures to put in the wall) our children. This is moreless the same you have in the NABO page this year. If I found how to scan it, I'll send you. My children like it a lot.
Oh, about the "outlawing" of our Olentzero, Basque Santa, Enrique Villar, who was the Governmental Delegate in the Basque Country with Aznar until past Christmas, was also the Alava Governor in the last Franco and post-Franco times. He was the one who send the Riot Police against the Olentzero in vitoria in the 70's. (So when they recovered the Vitoria-Gasteiz mayor for PP in 1999 the first Alonso made was to change the Christmas caravan from the 24th -Olentzero- to January 5th -Magician Kings- but it ended badly as one of the horses ended mad in the middle throwing his King out, etc.)
Zorionak eta Urte Berri on.
mendi
posted by mendi at 2:34 AM
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