Amagüestu.
Ok, there is no real translation for this Asturian word (sorry), but it is an autumnal fiesta.
A similar festival is celebrated in Catalunya, Cantabri and Galicia. It is, from what I can gather, a kind of chestnut harvest celebration. Castañas (chesnuts) are roasted and eaten along with sidra dulce, sweet cider which is basically strong apple juice. Most schools hold a small fiesta in celebration and some include traditional dancing as well. The primary school hired a gaita (bagpipe) player, as its the traditional Celtic/Asturian instrument and the children had made black paper hats in the traditional shape. There was also a train shaped oven for roasting the chestnuts.
We all huddled under the roof of the sheltered court before the Asturian weather took hold (i.e. it bucketed down). I have discovered I don't like chestnuts, roasted or otherwise, their only pleasant aspect was their warmth from the cone made out of a Lidl flyer.
Yesterday, I stumbled upon some traditional dancing and music in the plaza outside the old palace, next to the Plaza Mayor.
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