A long time ago, deep in the forests of the Basque mountains, a fairy found an abandoned baby boy. She gave him the name of Olentzero and the gifts of strength, bravery and love. She then left him on the doorsteps of a childless couple who was thrilled to be given the joy of raising a child. Olentzero grew up in their loving home surrounded by beautiful mountains. His foster parents eventually died as he had turned into a mature and hard working man. Feeling now lonely in the mountains, he remembered a house in town where orphans lived; he could relate to their loneliness. He decided to carve some wooden toys for them that he would bring on his next trip to town on market day. The children were so happy to play with Olentzero’s toys and story telling that Olentzero made it a regular habit to come and visit them. He gained tremendous popularity among all children in the town over the years as he often took the half day trip down the mountain carrying wooden toys to the less fortunate ones.
Once, as he was in town in the middle of a thunderstorm, a lightening hit a house that started to burn. Olentzero noticed two children totally frightened at the window. Without hesitation, he made his way to the house full of flames, extracted the children safely but got himself knocked down by a falling beam. He died on the spot, his body left in the flames. Soon after the fairy appeared and said that she would not let him die based on his exemplary life. She announced that he would forever be able to deliver toys to the children in needs throughout the Basque country.
Therefore every year towards the end of December, Olentzero dressed in black comes down from the mountains with a bag full of toys to offer to the least fortunate children throughout the Basque country. Today children sing songs in the streets to call Olentzero with messages of love and giving, strength and bravery.
Some people do not believe in his existence but let’s not forget an old Basque proverb : Anything, anyone with a name exists if we believe in its/his/her existence.
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