#26 - 🎄 The Christmas Hero Who Rides A Donkey 🫏 — El Olentzero

#26 - 🎄 The Christmas Hero Who Rides A Donkey 🫏 — El Olentzero

Author: Latin ELE December 1, 2025 Duration: 13:13
Ever heard of the Basque Christmas gift-giver who replaces Santa Claus? 🎅

In this episode of Basic Spanish Conversations, I talk with Aitor Pisos, a Spanish teacher from Bilbao, about Olentzero, one of northern Spain’s most unique holiday figures.

We explore who Olentzero is, why he’s connected to coal, how he’s traditionally portrayed, and the modern celebrations featuring children’s letters, Basque carols, and lively Christmas Eve parades.

Ready? ¡Vamos!

📚 Study along with the transcript on Latin ELE's blog ⬇️
https://latinele.com/who-is-olentzero-basque-christmas/

🌐 Connect with Aitor: 
Newsletter: https://subscribepage.io/ElProfesorAitor
Sitio web: https://www.elprofesoraitor.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElProfesorAitor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elprofesoraitor/

✈️ Ready for your next adventure? Get our FREE Spanish Adventures Companion to master key phrases for common TRAVEL SITUATIONS and wow your amigos!

❤️ Join our SUPPORTERS CLUB on Spreaker and access all transcripts. No strings. Cancel anytime.

If you love this podcast, help others find it! Leave a five-star review and share it with your amigos. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ever feel like you understand Spanish in class but get lost when someone actually speaks it? That’s the gap Basic Spanish Conversations aims to bridge. Hosted by Marco Fierro from Latin ELE, this podcast is designed for those who know the grammar basics but need to train their ears for real-life dialogue. Instead of long, daunting lessons, you’ll find focused, manageable audio clips featuring clear, conversational Spanish. Each episode zeroes in on practical phrases and common scenarios, helping you build comprehension and confidence naturally. Think of it as a regular, gentle workout for your listening skills. The pace and content are carefully crafted for upper-beginner learners, making it a practical tool to move from textbook Spanish to understanding how the language flows in everyday talk. By consistently tuning in, you’ll start to pick up nuances, improve your pronunciation, and feel more prepared for conversations. This isn’t about complex theory; it’s about hearing and grasping Spanish as it’s genuinely spoken. If you’re looking to make consistent, bite-sized progress without feeling overwhelmed, this podcast offers a structured and accessible path forward.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 33

Basic Spanish Conversations
Podcast Episodes
#30 - Who is Luis Miguel? ☀️ The Sun of Mexico 🇲🇽 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:41
😵‍💫 Pasados driving you crazy? Get Stories to Explore Spanish Past Tenses, a FREE ebook + audio that makes the past tenses finally make sense.🎤 In this episode of Basic Spanish Conversations, we talk about Luis Miguel, t…
📖 Stories to Explore Spanish Past Tenses (Ebook + Audio) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20
📚 Stories to Explore Spanish Past Tenses is your go‑to resource to start mastering the Spanish past tenses through simple, engaging stories.In this episode, I share a sneak peek of the three surprising tales inside: one…
#27 - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly of Latin American YouTube ▶️ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:27
✉️ Learn a new Spanish word every week! Subscribe to Latin ELE's newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.⭐️ YouTube is full of global stars like MrBeast and PewDiePie… but what about Latin America? In this episode of Basic Spani…
#24 - To Be a Don Juan ❤️ (and His Spooky Secret 👻) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:07
✈️ Ready for your next adventure? Get our FREE Spanish Adventures Companion to master key phrases for common TRAVEL SITUATIONS and wow your amigos!Who was the real Don Juan, and what does he have to do with ghosts and Al…
#22 - 🇨🇱 Chile’s Culture Shock: Food, Friends & Celebrations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:09
✈️ Ready for your next adventure? Get our FREE Spanish Adventures Companion to master key phrases for common TRAVEL SITUATIONS and wow your amigos!🇨🇱 What’s it really like to live in Chile? 🇨🇱In this episode of Basic Spa…