Asturians

Culture and society

Heritage

The Asturians have Celtic (Astures) and Latin cultural origins, most notably found in the Asturian language.

Religion

Asturians' religious affiliation is predominantly Roman Catholic. The Catholic faith has historically been important to Asturians, as the Battle of Covadonga and the founding of an independent Asturian Kingdom by Pelayo were believed to have been because Pelayo prayed to a statue of the Virgin Mary in a cave before his victory in battle. Believing that Mary miraculously aided the Asturians in the battle, a shrine was set up in her honour in Covadonga.

Prior to their Christianization, Asturians followed a polytheistic Celtic religion. Many elements of this faith have survived in the form of Asturian mythological creatures and folkloric legends told today.

Languages

Main article: Asturian language

Throughout history, Asturian people have been subject to multiple language shifts. They originally spoke a Q-Celtic language, similar to that of the neighbouring Gallaeci people. However, due to the Roman conquest of Asturias, the language became replaced with the modern Asturian language, also known as bable, which is a Romance language. Since few records of the original Celtic language remain, it cannot be revived and has gone extinct.

The Asturian language, once also widely spoken by Asturians, has been in decline since the early 20th century, although around 40% of Asturians still speak the language (10% as a mother tongue). As Asturias is presently part of Spain, language shift toward Castilian Spanish continues to occur. Whilst not recognized as an official language in Spain, it is protected under the Autonomous Statute legislation, and efforts to preserve the language continue to be made. In the western part of Asturias, Eonavian (which is a transition language between Galician and Asturian) is also spoken, and its promotion also falls under the responsibility of Law 1/1998.

Cuisine

Main article: Asturian cuisine

The most famous traditional dish is Fabada Asturiana, a rich stew made with large white beans (fabes), pork shoulder (llacón), morciella, chorizu, and saffron (azafrán). Apple groves foster the production of the traditional alcoholic drink, a natural cider (sidra). It is a very dry cider, and unlike French or English natural ciders, uses predominantly acidic apples, rather than sweet or bittersweet. Sidra is traditionally poured in by an expert server (or escanciador): the bottle is raised high above his or her head to oxygenate the brew as it moves into the glass below.

Music

The Danza Prima is the most famous Asturian dance. The most characteristic instrument is the gaita asturiana, or Asturian bagpipe. Similar bagpipes can be found in neighbouring regions such as Cantabria and Galicia.

Emigration

In March 2019, it was reported that there are 133,854 Asturians living in 65 countries.

Americas

Asturians were involved in the development of the New World and their descendants in present-day Latin America, especially in Argentina and Uruguay; and other countries where Asturians moved to during the rule of the Spanish Empire. The Industrial Revolution came to Asturias after 1830 with the discovery and systematic exploitation of coal and iron resources. At the same time, there was significant migration to the Americas (i.e. Mexico, Cuba{{cite web | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160326100507/http://www.oldhavanaweb.com/asturian_center_building.html | archive-date =2016-03-26 | url-status =dead | access-date =2016-03-19 | archive-date =2018-08-10 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180810235407/http://www.cuba-museums-guide.com/cuba_museums/asturian_center.htm | url-status =dead | access-date =2016-03-19 | archive-date =2018-08-10 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180810205905/http://digitalcollections.ucsc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/p265101coll30/id/4411 | url-status =dead

Tens of thousands of Asturians moved to the United States en masse, mainly to agricultural industries of Florida and California and the zinc smelters of West Virginia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were also involved in working in industrial bases of Midwestern factory towns. (see Asturian-American). A characteristic of the Asturian wherever they go is their attachment to the land of their birth. This is reflected in the 82 Asturian Centers in the United States. Well-known people whose ancestors are Asturian, include Gloria Estefan, Eva Longoria, Vicente Fox, Lauren Jauregui, Miguel Díaz-Canel or Pimpinela. Martín de Argüelles was the first European who was born in the current United States.

As of 2019, there are 103,655 Asturian living in the Americas.

Europe

In the case of Europe, the largest Asturian community sits in Belgium, with 8,208 members. France, with 4,913, Germany, with 3,994, and Switzerland, with 3,786, are also traditional countries of Asturian emigration.

Notable people of Asturian origin

• Chindasuinth
• Pelagius of Asturias
• Alfonso I of Asturias
• Silo of Asturias
• Gaspar Melchor de Jovellanos
• Fernando Villaamil
• Hevia
• Leopoldo Alas
• José Andrés (chef)
• Federico Romero
• Indalecio Prieto
• Luis Walter Alvarez (Nobel Prize in Physics)
• Severo Ochoa (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine)
• Santiago Carrillo
• Margarita Salas
• Corín Tellado
• Queen Letizia of Spain
• Luis Enrique Martínez
• David Villa
• Juan Mata
• Fernando Alonso (F1 World champion)
• Lou Piniella, American baseball player and manager
• Melendi
• Andrés Manuel López Obrador (President of Mexico)
• Miguel Díaz-Canel (President of Cuba)
• Teresa Meana Suárez
• Cristina Fernández de Kirchner
• Francisco Ángel Soriano San Martin
• Belén del Valle Díaz

References

References

1. García, Eugenia. (21 April 2020). "Asturias pierde en un año 4.094 habitantes". [[El Comercio (Spain).
2. (20 March 2019). "La diáspora asturiana se dispara: suma casi dos veces la población de Avilés". [[La Voz de Asturias]].
3. Minahan, James. (2000). "One Europe, Many Nations: A Historical Dictionary of European National Groups". [[Greenwood Publishing Group]].
4. Arrieta Gallastegui, Miguel I.. (2005). "Gentes y seres mágicos de la mitología de Asturias". Ediciones Trea.
5. W., Cunliffe, Barry. (2003). "The Celts". Oxford University Press.
6. (2005). "Historia de Asturias". KRK Ediciones.
7. M. Teresa Turell. (2001). "Multilingualism in Spain : sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic aspects of linguistic minority groups". Multilingual Matters.
8. Bauske 1995
9. "El Ayuntamiento de Oviedo se vuelca con la sidra y celebra su Día Mundial, el próximo viernes - Noticias - oviedo.es".
10. (2022-06-05). "El texu de La Collada, testigo de la lucha por el medioambiente".
11. (2007-06-17). "Clemente Díaz, el gaitero de Ibias, un disco a los 87".
12. (2007-12-19). ""La gaita pertenece a la identidad musical de Cantabria"".
13. "Introduction & Statement of Purpose". Asturian-American Migration Forum.
14. [http://www.centroasturianotampa.org/history/ History of the Centro Asturiano de Tampa Building and Social Club]
15. [http://www.fica.es/?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=28 FICA – Federación Internacional de Centros Asturianos]
16. [http://www.centroasturiano.org/ Centro Asturiano de Nueva York]
17. (27 May 2019). "Con el mundo por montera picona". [[La Nueva España]].