GUILLEMELGAT’S CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD | Euskal Herria (Basque Country)
Vendors at the Santo Tomas Fair in Donostia (source). On December 21, many Basque towns and cities host a winter market, celebrating local farmers. Donostia hosts one of the largest ones, with lots of different vendors selling both raw and prepared products.
A family in traditional Basque clothing at the Santo Tomas Fair in Donostia (source). For the fair, it’s common for people to dress in the traditional Basque clothing: abarka shoes; long skirts and a kerchief over the head for women; and a txapela hat and kerchief around the neck for men.
A plate of txistorra sausage at the Santo Tomas Fair in Irun (source). The most common treat at the Santo Tomas Fair is txistorra, a type of sausage which is often eaten wrapped up in a talo, which is similar to the Central American tortilla.
Two servings of intxaur-saltsa, a typical Basque Christmas dessert (source). Made from walnuts, this sweet has a creamy texture and is traditional on Christmas Eve.
A model Olentzero (source). Olentzero is often called the Basque Santa Claus; however, he is a bit different. Originally said to be one of the giants of the Pyrenees and a frightening figure, over the centuries, Olentzero evolved into a kind and generous gift-giver. His current origin story is as a charcoal-burner and wood-carver who sacrificed his life to save children from a burning house. Because of this deed, he was granted eternal life in order to keep making gifts for children. Olentzero parades through many towns at Christmastime and is a beloved figure for Basque people, having survived and come out strong on the other side of Francoist repression.
Txoronpio collects letters to Olentzero in a town in the Debagoiena region (source). Olentzero has two helpers called Txoronpio and Txoronpia, who walk around with sacks and collect letters from children to deliver to him. They are depicted by people on stilts with painted faces and dressed in traditional clothing.
The creche in the life-sized Nativity scene at Florida Park in Gasteiz (source). Every year in Gasteiz, life-sized statues fill Florida Park, creating a Nativity scene that takes up a section of the park and includes over 200 figures. Nativity scenes on a smaller scale are also common across the Basque Country and surrounding areas.
The Three Kings arrive in Donostia (source). The Spanish tradition is to give gifts on January 6, with the Three Kings leaving them in children’s shoes on the night of January 5. While Olentzero gives gifts on Christmas, children in the southern part of the Basque Country often also participate in Three Kings’ Day and get double the presents! There are also parades for the Three Kings, similar to Olentzero.
A traditional roscón de reyes (source). Another shared tradition with Spain in the southern Basque Country is making roscón de reyes, a sweet cake to be eaten on January 6. The tradition goes that however finds a certain object hidden in the cake gets to wear the crown and be king for the day—similar to other Christmas sweet traditions across Europe, such as English Christmas pudding.
(Thanks to this post for inspiration)
