The last Sunday in August is the famous Fiesta de la Regalina, perhaps one of the most colourful traditional pilgrimages in Asturias, and certainly the most spectacular in its location. But how traditional is it? Well, like everything else, it depends on how you look at it.
But first I have to tell you about Padre Galo. Patience.
Father Galo, whose literary pseudonym was Fernán Coronas, was a religious man and poet from Asturias born on 7 August 1884 in Cadavedo. His contribution to the dignification of the Asturian language and his poetry had a profound influence on the first generation of the “Surdimientu”, a cultural and literary movement that sought to revitalise Asturian identity through the promotion of its language and culture. He was a leading figure of his time and is still remembered with passion in Cadavedo and beyond.
As a boy, he was sent to the seminary, which led him to travel all over Europe, living in various European countries. It is said that he was a polyglot, as he spoke French, Italian, Portuguese, Latin, and also translated English, German, Finnish, Greek and Hebrew. Some people do not waste time in their lives, really.
His passion for languages and philology was joined by his love of writing. He has several works in Spanish, but his most interesting production is in Asturian, writing in the variant of his own village, Cadavedo. The next time you hear people say that “minority languages are for rednecks” or “you’d better learn English, that kind of talk of yours is getting you nowhere”, think of Padre Galo, do me a favour.
And there’s more. Father Galo was the main promoter, back in 1931, of the feast of the Regalina, in honour of the virgin of Riégala (the saint of devotion in the area), in that peculiar mixture of religious festivity and Asturian culture. And for this, he proposed the current location, and that without knowing what social networks would do today with that environment…
Incidentally, he did all this before the age of 55, as he died at the age of 54. It is true that religious life makes it easier to have time for many things. But hey, I’d need three lifetimes to do half of that…
Father Gallus’ influence extends beyond his literary work. His religious commitment and his focus on promoting Asturian language and culture made him an iconic figure in the region. He was a passionate advocate for his land and people, and his legacy continues to be cherished by those who value cultural and linguistic diversity.
And now, to answer the question… Is the Regalina festival a traditional festival?
Well, depending on how you look at it. The concepts of something “traditional” are not the same in China as in the United States, for example.
Another day I’ll tell you the story of the cachopo, and then your head will explode…
In our case, we do a very cool route around the area:
This one we did recently…
You know that if you want to come, you can sign up for our organised routes, or contact us, and we’ll find a day to do it…
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