Basque legendary creatures

thumb|185px|A figure of Olen being carried through the streets of Barakaldo Olentzero (, sometimes Olentzaro or Olantzaro and Olenchero) is a character in Basque Christmas tradition. According to Basque traditions, Olentzero comes to town late at night on 24 December to drop off presents for children. In some places he arrives later, for example in Ochagavía – Otsagabia on the 27th and in Ermua on the 31st.

Aatxe (; a contraction of ) is a spirit in the folk mythology of the Basque people. His name is literally translated as "Young Bull", and he is sometimes known as Etsai. He is a cave-dwelling spirit who adopts the form of a young red bull, but being a shapeshifter, sometimes takes the shape of a man. Aatxe is also described as a shapeshifter that may appear not only as a bull but also as a cow or calf. At night, more so in stormy weather, he arises from the hollow which is his lair. He attacks criminals and other malevolent people. He also protects people by making them stay home when danger i

thumb|upright|Artist's depiction of a basajaun and his female companion, a basandere. In Basque mythology, ' (, "Lord of the forest", plural: , female ') is a huge, hairy hominid dwelling in the woods. They were thought to protect flocks of livestock and teach skills such as agriculture and ironworking to humans.

thumb|Modern rendering of Sugaar as serpent in the lauburu by Josu Goñi

Duck-footed seductress in Basque mythology

thumb|250px|Tartalo, in the Izenaduba Basoa amusement park in Mungia ([[Biscay).]] Tartaro, Tartalo, or Torto in Basque mythology, is an enormously strong one-eyed giant very similar to the Greek Cyclops that Odysseus faced in Homer's Odyssey. He is said to live in caves in the mountains and catches young people in order to eat them; in some accounts he eats sheep also.

thumb|190px|Artist's depiction of a Jentil thumb|190px|Jentilarri, Aralar. The jentil (or jentilak with the Basque plural), are a race of giants in Basque mythology. This word meaning gentile, from Latin gentilis, was used to refer to pre-Christian civilizations and in particular to the builders of megalithic monuments, to which the other Basque mythical legend the Mairuak are involved too.

thumbnail|''Witches' Sabbath (Goya, 1798)|El aquelarre, [[Francisco Goya.]] Akerbeltz or Aker (from Basque aker'', 'billy goat' and beltz, 'black') is a spirit in the folk mythology of the Basque people. It is said to live inside the land and is believed to have as many elves as servants. In Christianity, Akerbeltz is considered the live image of the devil, performing sexual abuses against Christians.

Mairu (plural: mairuak), also called Maideak, Mairiak, Saindi Maidi (in Lower Navarre), Intxisu in the Bidasoa valley are creatures of Basque mythology. They were giants who built dolmens or harrespil. Like the dolmens, they are only found in mountains. They are often associated with lamia, though these are known in all the Basque Country.

Herensuge is the name for a mythical dragon in the Basque language. In Basque mythology, dragons appear sparingly, sometimes with seven heads. Herensuge often also appear in the form of a serpent. The seven heads were believed to be the offspring of the Herensuge dragon. When the little dragons were fully grown, they would fall off their mother's head. Only the god Sugaar is associated with this creature but more often with a serpent.

In Basque mythology, Gaueko is the spirit of the night. He does not allow humans to do certain works outside the house during the night. He especially punishes all those who try to show off as brave in the night, boasting of not fearing the darkness. He is considered to be a devil in some accounts, a jentil or gentilic divinity in others. In some cases he makes his presence felt as a gust of wind, as he pronounces these words: Gaua Gauekoarentzat, eguna egunezkoarentzat ("the night for Gaueko (the one of the night), the day for the one of the day"). Sometimes he appears in the shape of a cow,

thumb|Iratxo Iratxoak (sing.: iratxo) are the imps of Basque mythology. Usually benevolent, they help with farming labours in the night if given presents of food. Galtxagorriak are a specific kind of iratxoak. Their name means the red-pants.

In Basque mythology, Odei, also known as Hodei is a spirit of thunder and the personification of storm clouds.