Esteru

Esteru's float in the Three Kings Parade in Comillas, Cantabria.

Esteru in parade in the Three Kings Parade in Comillas, Cantabria.

The Esteru is a Christmas character from the oral tradition of Cantabria.

The Esteru is a big, warm hearted woodcutter with a beret, a smoking pipe and a long beard, who usually wears wooden albarcas and always takes his axe, his walking stick, and his loyal servant, el Burru (the Donkey). He represents kindness and goodness on the Earth. He lives in the forest in Cantabria and dedicates all year to cut wood, except on Christmas, when he manufactures the toys he will later deliver to all the homes in Cantabria.

Oral tradition about this character was exclusively documented in Ruiseñada, Comillas, a village in western Cantabria where Esteru is popular and appears every year in the Three Kings parade. Since then, the myth has spread throughout the region of Cantabria particularly in recent years. He is therefore, along with the anjanas, one of the most well-known symbols representing Christmas in Cantabria.^[1][2]

See also

• Anjana
• Cantabrian mythology

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Esteru.

• RNE interview to Apalpador,Angulero, Esteru y Olentzero
• Esteru on YouTube, TV report of the Santander City Council.

v t e Cantabrian mythology Divinities Cantabrian deities Cabuniaegius Candamus Cantabria Epane Erudinus Mater Deva Adopted Roman gods Janus Jupiter Mars Neptune Heroes Cantabri Corocotta Larus  Creatures Alicorniu Anjana Arquetu Basiliscu Bichu amarillu Brujas de Ongayu Caballucos del Diablu Cuegle Cuines de Silió Culebre Duende zahorí Enanucos bigaristas Espumeros Esteru Fish-man Gallu de la muerte Guajona Hechiceras del Ebro Ijana Mengues Monuca Mozas del Agua Musgosu Nuberu Ojáncana Ojáncanu Osa de Andara Pájaru de la alegría Pájaru de ojos amarillos Pecu Ramidreju Reina Mora Sierpe de Peñacastillu Sirenuca Sun of the Dead Tentiruju Trasgu Trastolillu Trenti Ventolines Viejuca de Vispieres Locations Deva River Fuentes Tamáricas Mons Vindius Montehano Mozagro Mount Cildá Peña Amaya Peña Sagra Peña Santa Pico Dobra Dates La Vijanera Antruíu Marzas La Maya Midsummer / St John's Eve Sun of the Dead Samhain / All Saints Midwinter Others Cantabrian Steles Cantabrum / Lábaru Patera of Otañes Cantabrian Neptune