Asturias is a mystical land full of legends and myths. It is one of the regions known as Green Spain, the name given to the rugged coastal cliffs, sprawling lush green valleys and hills, and the mountainous interior of the Northern Spanish coastline exposed to the Atlantic Ocean, extending from Galicia in the west along the Bay of Biscay to the French border in the east.
For many people spring is the perfect time for getting out and about after the short dark winter days. It is a time of year for fantasy and make-believe, mystery and magic. Here, you will have a wonderful time strolling around the beautiful villages and countryside or just relaxing and listening to a few of the popular Asturian Celtic traditions and learning about the Asturian mythological characters and legends such as:
El Trasgu - a mythological figure meaning goblin or imp. It is a type of rogue or mischievous elf, small in stature with a limp that is further emphasized by its long stride. It dresses in a red cap and a suit, it has horns, a tale and a hole in its hand, through which grain escapes and which the local villager offers to provoke its anger and displeasure.
El Cuélebre - a snake. It is supposed to be an animal with the body of a serpent covered in scales with a large tale and the wings of a bat. It is believed that it lives in the Asturian woods, caves, or along the banks of rivers and its job is to protect the fairies or “xanas” and the treasures. It is believed that it feeds on people and cattle and when its worldly life comes to an end, it goes to die at the bottom of the sea.
La Xana - a fairy. It is of a female character found in Asturian mythology. She is a fairy spirit of amazing beauty and is said to live in fountains, rivers, waterfalls or forest regions with unpolluted water. She is generally described as being small and slim with long wavy or curly, blonde hair, which she constantly combs with a gold or silver comb woven from sunrays or moonbeam.
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