The entire city, stage of processions and respectful silence during the previous days, is full of excitement Resurrection Sunday. The Confraternity of the Bollu offers the solemn mass in the church of San Nicolás de Bari. Then the proclamation and the beginning of a surprising parade of decorated chariots by citizen associations; children dressed in regional costumes, giant and bigheaded, bands and folk groups. The street is a show constant waiting anxiously the next day.
A Monday to the sound, a city that eats in the streets
Monday can also be a big day. In Avilés, it's the day of the week chosen to celebrate the arrival of spring and put an end to the fasting of Lent and the strict silence of Holy Week. A unique formula that consists of an outdoor fellowship meal. It has been practiced since 1993Appealing to the rural spirit of picnics and pilgrimages, the people of Avilés quickly adopted the festival and since then expectations have been exceeded.
Eager to have fun, the whole city participates and, in doing so, renews its traditions. The event has been met with complete acceptance in the region. The figures for citizen participation speak for themselves: the rows of tables set up in the streets for the massive meal stretch for nearly 5.000 meters. more than 20.000 diners they sit in them and the confectionery guild sells more than 6 tons of traditional Easter bun, which is the centenary emblem of the festival.
Good neighborly coexistence gains followers, year after year, in this gigantic and tasty tablecloth that is the historic center of the village. The youngest go to the city parks as a gang and choose prau as a place to eat. Peñas are created for the occasion, which sit next to those already created: cultural, sports, social and other associations. At the last moment there are always people who come asking if there is a place, especially tourists. And "there is room" even if a pin does not fit. The entire city has left home and enjoys the role of hostess.
The sites for diners are decided by strict order of registration, and once the seat is obtained, the food arrives. Everyone brings it from home in baskets and tuppers: potato omelettes, empanadas, steaks ... there will always be someone who remembers the dessert and there is no lack of cider and / or wine. Nobody is left without eating since a great fabada is cooked in the busy Plaza de España.
Over 3000 servings for those who weren't quite ready. You can have a snack at one table, dessert at another, coffee at yet another, and all without anyone thinking you're taking advantage. Then comes a desktop without haste, a nap, and the charangas come back, the fanfares by the streets, the corals of habaneras, the Asturian tune and, already at night, the verbena and the fireworks.
The bollu is the king
The celebration itself dates from the late nineteenth century and in the 20th century it was declared a Festival of Regional Tourist Interest. Homenajea al bollu, that shortbread biscuit, with the shape of a four leaf clover or superimposed stars, forming a castle and bathed in icing sugar; decorated with paper flowers and other motifs, such as traditional chicks. A sweet present that godparents and godmothers offer that day to their godchildrenthanking them for giving them the blessed palm on Palm Sunday.
The unique story of this sweetened bread dates back to the 18th centuryWhen Asturians began migrating to the Americas, they carried among their provisions buns made with wheat flour, butter, and eggs; buns that had the property of hardening and keeping for a long time without molding. Before evolving into the current mantecado, on April 2, 1893, several young women dressed in white traveled through the center of Avilés in old horse-drawn carriages. In the carriages, they carried buns and white wine, which was distributed among those present.
Afterwards, there's a celebration with bagpipes and drums. This is the first Fiesta de El Bollu, founded by the brotherhood of Dr. Claudio Luanco as a prelude to the arrival of spring. The girls in white from that time are, nowadays, the Xana, the Xanina, and the Ladies-in-Waiting of the festival.
Currently, after the opening rocket of the festival Easter SundayAvilés is a constant hub of activity. Pottery fairs, ballet performances, theater, themed competitions, music festivals, stand-up comedy, bagpipers, tournaments and championships of all kinds…
If you can ask for an extra day of vacation at Easter, do not miss the most festive Monday. One thing is that we tell you about it and quite another that you live it.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
