Alfonso beat me to it! He must have been less tired than I was. I think we both got a too much sun, too. (It's obvious that the traditional Asturian outfit didn't have to deal with scorching sun, humidity, and high temperatures!)
Thanks to Alfonso for his hard work in putting together the display and in making the booth a special experience for visitors. You should see his beautiful new costume!
SHARING THE JOY, THE KNOWLEDGE
The festival was great. It's always very satisfying to realize how interested other people are in Asturian culture and history. In the process of answering questions at the booth, we meet others who are happy to share their knowledge, so we all gain. A retired woman, for example, was happy to tell me in detail about her enjoyable experiences walking the Way of Saint James (El Camino de Santiago) through Asturias.
CELTIPHILES
A Celtic festival like this draws people from all over. Some are there mostly for the music, but others come to spread the story of the Celts.
Of course, as can be expected, there were the conflicting stories, but that's part of the fun.
One Galician told Asturian Ben Pecson (more in a minute on Ben) that the Galicians were the only area of Spain the Moors didn't conquer. Uh-ha. Right. Some Asturians engage in similar claims, too, claiming that because a couple dozen Asturians under Pelayo never surrendered (and the Moors decided foolishly to forget about them), Asturias was never conquered. Of course, it's easier to argue this if you ignore the Moorish administration set up in Gijón.
There were several representatives of the Celtic Learning Project (ww.celtlearn.org) at the festival. Those of you in the Northeast might be interested in connecting with these very interesting folks. They're working on creating a living history museum in Connecticut.
MEETING OTHER ASTURIANS
In talking to one visitor, Steve McClelland (who I think was wearing a 1883 Victorian Scottish Highlander soldiers uniform outfit), I learned that he was 1/16 Asturian. His ancestor, an Asturian named Tamez, had emigrated to Mexico. He also told me that this man was thought to be the ancestor of all people named Tamez in Mexico. Later I introduced Steve to Alfonso, telling him about the Tamez ancestor. Alfonso was amazed, because he was also related to a Tamez in Mexico! Cousins! One wore a Highlander uniform, the other a traditional Asturian costume, but both are Asturians.
A friend from the tent of the International Committee for the Defense of the Breton Language, Benjamin Pecson told us that his Asturian great grandfather was an important figure in the Philippines during its Spanish period. He still has family in Asturias and has even hunted wild boar with his cousins who live near Covadonga. (Ben killed the boar, but the boar gored him, too.)
MUSIC
Looking for a something a little different musically? Well, next year you'll want to check out the rockers in kilts.
I got to see several performances. Some of the groups are acoustic, some are rock. Some are old-timers you'd recognize, and some are newcomers you'll want to get to know. (In fact, at a festival like this you can easily get a front row seat and talk to the musicians after their show.) All of the groups I saw were very skilled performers who put on a great show.
As you would expect, if you know them at all, the Battlefield Band was outstanding. (They're Scottish, but they don't wear kilts.) By the way, I'll post
another message because the piper, Mike Katz, wants to know if there are good surfing beaches in Asturias.
The Welsh group, Ffynnon, were a knockout.
AND YOU?
The festival is a great way to make contacts with knowledgeable and interesting people. Of course, the music is quite good, too. It'd be great to see you there next year!