Asturian-American Migration Forum

As our American members know, it is the custom in the US to play the national anthem (Star Spangled Banner) at the beginning of athletic events, and everyone is expected to stand respectfully. The custom began during the Second World War. Also, school children are expected to recite the pledge of allegiance every morning before beginning their classes for the day. They face the American flag, which is displayed in the classroom, place their right hands over their hearts, and recite the words in unison. I don't know when this custom began.

I wonder if similar customs exist in Asturias, other regions of Spain, or other nations to which Asturians have migrated. What do our friends outside the US think of our practices?

Bob Martinez

That's an interesting question, Bob. We've touched on it a little here:
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtop ... =2656#2656
I wish we could easily transfer some of those responses here, but.....

I didn't know these traditions were so recent.

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Bob, haces una pregunta muy buena. Hemos hablado un poco de este tema aquí:
http://www.asturianus.org/forum/viewtop ... =2656#2656
Ojalá que podemos copiar algo de esas respuestas aquí, pero....

No sabía que estas tradiciones son tan recientes.

Bob, I was going to say "no" and then I realized that we sing "Asturias Patria Querida" almost everywhere and any time! We sing it at weddings and christening parties, at the "Piragües" canoe race, we sing it (or play it on the bagpipe) at official events, we sing it at "espichas" (cider-barrel tapping party), and just about every time we organize a dinner party at a "chigre".
So, although we don't do it solemnly and ceremoniously, we do it all the time! Jeez!
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Bob, iba a decir que no, pero luego me dí cuenta de que cantamos Asturias Patria Querida en casi todas partes y en cualquier momento. Lo cantamos en bodas y bautizos, en Les Piragües, llo cantamos o tocamos a la gaita en acontecimientos oficiales, en espichas y casi siempre que organizamos una cena con los amigos en un chigre.
O sea que, aunque no lo hacemos de forma solemne ni ceremoniosa, lo cantamos continuamente! Cielos!

Terechu

Is the singing of "Asturias Patria Querida" something that is done naturally, or something that is expected under the circumstances? I have witnessed several unfortunate incidents in which those who did not stand for "The The Star Spangled Banner" were subject to jibes, taunts and even threats from others.

By the way, patriotic considerations aside, I think that "Asturias Patria Querida" is a beautiful piece of music.

Bob Martinez

Asturias Patria Querida is sung by all Spaniards, not just Asturians. Unfortunately, it's been turned into a drinking song in other regions in Spain. (Go out clubbing in Madrid sometime after 3 am and you'll hear it all over town.)

El carácter jolgórico-festivo del "Asturias Patria Querida" no es cosa nueva. Ya suscitó polémica cuando fue declarado himno oficial hace justo veinte años. En esta noticia en la prensa se cuenta un poco la historia, con motivo de la efeméride.

Lo de subirse a los árboles de niño, sea una excusa o no en la anécdota que recoge el artículo, me ha recordado viejas hazañas que contaban los mayores... Otro dato curioso es que se atribuya su origen a emigrantes asturianos. Le daría mayor significado a aquello de "quién estuviera en Asturias...".

Y qué me decís del "Asturias, si yo pudiera". Victor Manuel tiene sus seguidores y sus detractores, pero la canción parece haber trascendido al cantante asturiano y al poeta salmantino (y andaluz de vocación) que la compuso (Pedro Garfias). Cuando suena en las romerías, a altas horas de la noche, tiene el efecto mimético de encender centenares de mecheros al unísono y hasta los más "alegres" son capaces de entonarla con sorprendente coherencia... Muestra de que está grabada en las capas más internas de la materia gris, en la fibra sensible, vamos.

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Transl. Terechu

The playful-festive character of Asturias Patria Querida is nothing new. It already drew controversry when it was declared he official anthem exactly 20 years ago. This press release gives un an insight into its history on the day of its anniversary.

The part about climbing up trees, whether or not it is an excuse as per the anecdote cited in the article, it does remind me of the adventure stories our elders use to tell ... Another curious fact is that its origin is attributed to Asturian emigrants. In that case the part of “who could be in Asturias...” [wished I could be...] would make sense.
And what about “Asturias, si yo pudiera”? Victor Manuel has fans and detractors, but this song seems to be have gone beyond this Asturian singer and the Salamancan poet (Andalusian by choice) who composed it (Pedro Garfias). Whenever it begins to sound in the “romerías” (village fairs), late at night, it has the mimetic effect of hundreds of lighters being lighted at the same time and even the most contented [drunk] are able to sing it with surprising coherence. That proves that it is recorded in the innermost layers of the grey matter, the sensitive fibre, in other words.

Para los jóvenes que sólo conocen el Asturias Patria Querida de las romerías (o mejor dicho verbenas, porque las romerías son de día), quiero recordar aquí que este himno fue durante décadas el himno de los trabajadores que no podían cantar La Internacional. Al final de la época de Franco no había en toda España manifestación obrera que se preciara en la que no se cantara el APQ.
Con 14 años (1969) participé en un manifestación anti-Franco en Stuttgart, organizada por los sindicatos alemanes en protesta por la muerte de unos obreros de la construcción que estaban en huelga en Granada (creo), y fue increíble la cantidad de gente que se apuntó, porque el recorrido era de más de 10 km, desde la calle principal, la Königsstrasse, hasta el Consulado Español.
Y, si señor, aunque me atrevo a decir que no había ningún asturiano más que nosotros, los españoles que iban en la mani cantaron el APQ. Aún me emociona pensarlo.
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For the younger ones who only know the APQ from parties, I wish to remind everyone that for decades this was the hymn of the working classes who were not allowed to sing The International. Towards the end of the Franco era, there was no workers demonstration in Spain could pride itself of being one unless the APQ was sung.
When I was 14 (1969) I participated in my very first anti-Franco demonstration in Stuttgart (Germany), which was organized by the German Unions to protest the killing of several construction workers who had been on strike in Granada (I believe). It was incredible how many people turned out, especially considering that it was more than 10 km, from the main street, Königstrasse, to the Spanish Consulate General.
And, yessir, although I'm sure the only Asturians there were my family and me, the hundreds of Spaniards who participated sang the APQ. I still get all choked up when I think of it.

Terechu

Terechu wrote:Para los jóvenes que sólo conocen el Asturias Patria Querida de las romerías (o mejor dicho verbenas, porque las romerías son de día)

Sí, tienes razón, a las "fiestas de prao" me refería en general.

Saludos,

Uno que ye muy joven para haberse subido a un árbol, pero que se pegó buenas castañas en bicicleta (si eso sirve en mi defensa)