December 16th Blog
DEMIGOD
DISPATCH
12/16
Hello Demigods, Mortals, and Monsters,
The winter holidays are right around the corner, and we’re getting into the spirit of the season here at Plato Learning. We’re wishing you a festive holiday and a restorative break, no matter what traditions you celebrate during the Yuletide season.
To help you get into the holiday spirit, this edition of the newsletter is centered around stories of lesser-known holiday heroes, and other stories of wintertime cheer. Our mythological feature is the tale of a very Santa-adjacent mythic figure known as Olentzero, from the Basque region of Spain. The story is as interesting as the story of the people to whom it belongs and involves a fairy goddess, goblin workers, and a heroic rebirth.
We also have a series of several media recommendations for you that each capture a special part of wintertime wonder, heroism, and celebration. Stay warm, keep your family and friends close, pour yourself some hot chocolate, and enjoy this edition of the Demigod Dispatch.
Stay brave, heroes.
Myths Around the World
Our featured story for this newsletter is the myth of Olentzero, a Santa Claus-like figure who comes to us from the isolated region of Basque, which encompasses parts of Northern Spain and South-Western France. I hope you enjoy this delightfully unique character that has many of the same traits as Santa, but with more pagan elements and a complete hero’s journey.
Once upon a time, many many years ago, in the deep forests of the Basque Country, there lived a very beautiful fairy. Her hair was yellow like the sun and her eyes were very bright.
One day while she was out tending to the plants and creatures of the forest with her goblin assistants, the Prakagorri, or “red-pants,” she heard a cry in the woods. She and the Prakagorri investigated and found a baby lying on the forest floor. She lamented the heartlessness of some humans but decided that this was indeed a blessing. She named the child Olentzero and gifted him with strength, courage, and love.
She took the young Olentzero to a childless couple who lived in the mountains so that they could raise him. Olentzero grew to be a strong and kind man who made coal to sell in the village down the mountain. In his spare time, he became a skilled whittler and woodcarver. He began giving small gifts to the children of the village whenever he came down the mountain to sell his coal.
One day, during a bad storm, a bolt of lightning struck a house in the village, and Olentzero rushed inside to save the family as flames started to consume the building. He managed to get everyone out, bravely guiding them through a window. But as he was making his way out, a beam fell and crushed him to death. At that moment, the same fairy who had rescued him as a child cried out:
“Olentzero, you have been a good man, faithful and kind-hearted. You have spent your life doing things for others, and you have even given your own life to save others. So I do not want you to die. I want you to live forever. From now on, you will make toys and other presents for children who do not have parents in this town and everywhere in the Basque Country.”
And so, Olentzero became an eternal hero of winter, coming down from the mountain every winter to deliver gifts to the children all throughout the land.
Some people don’t believe that Olentzero really exists. But in Basque, there is an old saying: Everything that has a name exists, if we believe it does.
Staff Spotlight
Eleni Delopolous
This newsletter’s staff spotlight is on Eleni Delopolous, the phenomenal camp director of the CHB Philadelphia program last summer. Now that she’s on break from leading demigod campers and counselors to victory on their quests, Eleni is performing on the stage, and you can catch her all month long with the Quintessence Theatre Group. Eleni is playing the role of Aunt March in a production of Little Women, which will be running nearly every day until January 1st. If you’re in the area, we recommend you experience this seasonal show and support a fellow demigod hero. More information can be found here.
Plato’s Recs
Magical Winter Read for Young Demigods: The Snowy Day by Jack Keats
While not expressly about myths or fantasy, I struggle to think of a book that does a better job at capturing the pure magic of the first snowfall of winter.
“The book is notable not only for its lovely artwork and tone but also for its importance as a trailblazer. According to Horn Book magazine, The Snowy Day was ‘the very first full-color picture book to feature a small black hero’—yet another reason to add this classic to your shelves. It’s as unique and special as a snowflake.” Amazon.com
Recommendation for Demigods of All Ages: Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman, long inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction, presents a bravura rendition of the Norse gods and their world from their origin through their upheaval in Ragnarok.
In Norse Mythology, Gaiman stays true to the myths in envisioning the major Norse pantheon: Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki—son of a giant—blood brother to Odin and a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator.
Looking for activities your young hero can engage in over the winter break? We’re offering online classes of our Mytho adventures!
Mytho is a collaborative storytelling roleplaying game that is led by one of our Mytho-Masters, who act as a narrator and guide for the adventure.
During this holiday season, virtual Mytho will feature single-day one-shots and two separate three-day campaigns for young Heroes to participate in. We welcome both returning players and new players to join us for these seasonal adventures!