Asturian-American Migration Forum

Forum member Fonsu Díaz is planning to attend two Celtic festivals in Maryland and is looking for Asturian-Americans to join him.

The Southern Maryland Celtic Festival will be Saturday April 26, 2014 from 10 AM to 6 PM, rain or shine, on the 560-acre Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, which is located near Prince Frederick. The festival always has many very good music performances and there are other things to do, too.
http://www.cssm.org/events/festival/

The Frederick Celtic Festival will be held on Saturday May 10, 2014 at the Mt. Airy Fire Dept. Fairgrounds, 1003 Twin Arch Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771 from 9 AM to 6 PM. There will also be an evening Celtic concert from 7 – 10 PM that same night. I've not attended the second festival, but Fonsu says it's good, too. I'm hoping to attend this one.
http://www.frederickcelticfestival.com/

A likely special event will be Fonsu demonstrating the use the scythe to cut grass. He will also show the traditional art of peening and honing (aspects of sharpening) the blade of the scythe. Fonsu is a winner of mowing and sharpening competitions in Asturias!

If you're interested let me know! We'd love to see you there!

Update: Steve McClelland, Fonsu Díaz, Paul De Zardain and his parents, Art Zoller Wagner, and possibly Elí De Solar are planning to attend at least one of the two festivals. We'd love to have you join us there, too!

We're hoping that someone from the DC area will be able to give three people a ride to Southern Maryland. They're delightful folks! Interested?

The Southern Maryland Celtic Festival is Saturday April 26th. Fonsu will be there, so be sure to look for the Asturian tent! I think Fonsu will be showing the traditional use of the scythe.

Fonsu and I will both be at the Frederick Celtic Festival on Saturday May 10, 2014 at the Mt. Airy Fire Dept. Fairgrounds, 1003 Twin Arch Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771 from 9 AM to 6 PM. Fonsu will be demonstrating using a scythe there, too. Join us!

Fonsu called me yesterday to report that the Asturian tent at the Southern Maryland Celtic Festival won first prize again for best clan tent. Alfonso puts on a great display of artifacts and information about Asturian culture. If you're in the area, be sure to visit with us at the Frederick Celtic Festival May 10th!

This first photo shows Alfonso Díaz and Steve McClelland. Fonsu, on the left, was born in Asturias and is wearing a traditional Asturian outfit. Steve has Asturian roots and was dressed as a Victorian British soldier because he does reenactments at the Celtic festivals.



The second photo shows the color guard of the Celtic nations, a tradition at Celtic festivals. There are debates about which regions should be included as Celtic nations, but one list includes these eight: Asturias, Brittany, Cornwall, Galicia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Scotland, and Wales.



This is the "Celtic Cup" that the Asturian tent won in the competition with other clan tents.



And here it is again, along with the one the Asturian tent won previously.



Some celtic festivals are very welcoming of the Asturians. In fact, there's a foot path named for Asturias at this Celtic fest.



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Fonsu me llamó ayer para informarnos de que la tienda asturiana en el Festival Celta del Southern Maryland ganó el primer premio de nuevo para la mejor tienda de los clanes. En la tienda Alfonso muestra un amplio número de artefactos e información sobre la cultura asturiana. Si estás en la zona, ¡no deje de visitarnos el 10 de mayo en el Festival Celta de Frederick!

Esta primera foto muestra a Alfonso Díaz y Steve McClelland. Fonsu, a la izquierda, nació en Asturias y aquí lleva un traje tradicional asturiana. Steve tiene raíces asturianas y está vestido como un soldado británico victoriano porque hace representaciones en los festivales celtas.



La segunda foto muestra la guardia de honor de las naciones celtas, una tradición en los festivales celtas. Hay debates sobre cuáles regiones deben ser incluidos como naciones celtas, pero una lista incluye estos ocho: Asturias, Bretaña, Cornualles, Galicia, Irlanda, Isla de Man, Escocia y Gales.



Esta es la "Copa Celta" que ganó la tienda asturiano en una competencia con otras tiendas de los clanes.



Y aquí está de nuevo, junto con la que la tienda asturiano ganó previamente.



Algunos festivales celtas son muy acogedores de los asturianos. De hecho, hay una ruta que lleva el nombre de Asturias en este festival celta.

The Frederick Celtic Festival is now promoting Alfonso Diaz's demonstrations on the use of the scythe in traditional Asturian culture:
www.frederickcelticfestival.com/the-scythe-man/

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El Festival Celta de Frederick está promoviendo las demostraciones de Alfonso Díaz en el uso de la guadaña en la cultura tradicional asturiana:
www.frederickcelticfestival.com/the-scythe-man/