euskalkultura.eus

Donostia-San Sebastian.  The Olentzero is up to date, and how!  Today the Internet provides a number of websites where you can learn more about the mythical character.  As every year, EuskalKultura.com has gathered some of them, in order provide activity ideas to parents in the Diaspora who are getting ready for the Christmas holidays and want to give their children a taste of a traditional Basque Christmas.

One of these sites is Gabonak; it is easily accessible, all you have to do is remember the questions: “Do you believe in the Olentzero?”  If the answer is yes, then you are given access to a world of songs, plays, a test created by the Olentzero himself, directions on how to make your own Olentzero, Olentzero panpina,   to hang in your house, a place to write letters to him (Olentzerori gutuna), as well as various greeting cards.  Here you will also find Haur Gaiztoen Txokoa (the corner for bad kids).  This site was created in 1998 by teachers and students at the Erentzun de Biana Ikastola in Navarra.  If you are interested in working with them to create new sections or have new ideas, you can contact them through this email: olentzero@jalgi.com

Another option is Olentzeroren Borda, the Olentzero’s cabin, where visitors will find games, pictures to color, a place to write letters to the Olentzero and also a section of Christmas cards. 

Eitb.com has also created a site dedicated to the Olentzero, with sections that include a series of games and animated stories: you can help the Olentzero pass out gifts, or you can enter into the story of the seamstress from Behekobaso.  You can also send him a letter from this site among other activities. 

Finally, remember that on Olentzero.net you can meet a handful of the Olentzero’s friends, from all over the Basque Country but especially from Navarra, who have posted photos of this Christmas mastermind during visits to their towns. 

(Please let us know if you know of other Olentzero sites.  Write to us on the Comments section and we’ll add it to the list).