From Rome to Siero . Through research, one discovers that almost all Asturian customs—so uniquely ours and so deeply rooted in the region—actually share remote origins, as if different peoples were simply reinventing, with their own distinctive accent, old ways of celebrating the same things. Thus, it is said that the Les Comadres festival has its distant antecedent in the Roman Matronalia , those festivities in honor of Juno Matrona , which allowed women, once a year, to reverse the social order and exercise certain privileges usually reserved for men. Like an echo of domestic Saturnalia, these matrons celebrated fertility, friendship, and chosen kinship.
And as in Asturias, what isn't written is passed down, the festival slipped through the centuries, settling—who knows how— in Pola de Siero, where it took firm root . There, since time immemorial, women celebrate their day with the joyful fervor of those who know there are few occasions like this to escape the routine.
The geography of the Les Comadres festival
Although of predominantly Asturian origin, the festival has a widespread but uneven presence in various towns and cities today. Historically, its epicenter was Pola de Siero , where it was celebrated on a massive scale since time immemorial. There is also evidence of gatherings of women known as "comadres" (godmothers) in Gijón, although until recently these were primarily private celebrations in homes, lacking the public and boisterous character it has acquired today.
From the 80s onwards, the festival was revitalized and began to spread to other municipalities in central Asturias . Today it is celebrated with enthusiasm in Siero, Langreo, Gijón, Avilés, and Oviedo, and is gaining ground in other towns in the central part of the Principality, with ever-increasing popularity.
Outside of Asturias, we also find similar versions of this festival in other parts of Spain, such as in the Basque Country , especially in Guipúzcoa, where exclusively female gatherings with a similar spirit are also celebrated.
What are Les Comadres?
The mechanics are simple, but the meaning is profound. The godmothers, soul sisters, confidantes, accomplices, gather to eat, drink, and laugh together . The menu is invariable: bollu preñáu (a type of filled bread roll) and cider , that inseparable pairing that can easily be compared to other classic duos like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza or Clarín and Vetusta. In some places, the celebration becomes more sophisticated and is held in restaurants and bars; in others, it retains its more intimate atmosphere.
"And what about men? " some intrigued readers might ask. Well, men are invited too.
In short, Les Comadres is neither an institutional nor a canonized festival : its essence lies in the gathering of women. It is not a parade or a performance, but an affirmation of friendship, camaraderie, and female power, in a playful and festive spirit.
