That's how we are

Learning Asturian/Asturianu, getting into the local festive spirit, joining its celebrations, dancing to popular music and enjoying its cultural events will reveal the most human side of Gijón/Xixón.

About our way of speaking

In Asturias there is its own language, language Asturian or asturianu. There are many Asturian words that we mix when speaking in Spanish and that are part of the usual vocabulary of Asturians: squid, roller, tendal, chop, march, chiscar, a esgaya, fartucar, lend, mancar, chigre, emburriar, caleya, mozu, guaje, fame, folixa, xaréu, afayadizu, esfamiáu, abondo…

in the winches

A chigre is to an Asturian what a pub is to an Irishman. Take advantage of your visit to mingle with the locals in cider bars, tapas bars and restaurants and follow these steps to fully integrate and not seem foriatu:

As you will notice, cider is not only drunk on special occasions. It is part of our daily lives and is drunk throughout the year. But it has its protocol:
- Cider is ordered by the bottle and, traditionally, the glass is shared. To bring out its flavor, the cider is poured.
- If you don’t dare, ask the waiter to pour it for you or ask a customer, who will surely give you a gabitu, not lacking in pride. You drink the culín in one gulp and leave a little to throw it away and clean the glass from which you drink.
- If someone pours you a cup and offers you a culín, don’t keep them waiting. Take the glass, drink it, and return it to him so he can continue serving.

We eat a lot. Normally in restaurants they will leave your pota on the table, they will not serve you a plate. You don’t have to eat everything they give you. You risk being served more.
Don’t try to eat a cachopo without sharing. Fabada, cachopo and rice pudding and you are already Asturian.
Although, to be a good Xixónés, you have to pay attention to the seasons. In winter we go crazy for the holes. And summer must be launched with tuna and sardines.
Cheese, for dessert.
We are very generous. We fight to pay and it’s easy for them to invite you to a culín when you greet someone.
In Xixón everyone will brag about being ‘beautiful’. Don’t be fooled, the real ones are from the Cimavilla neighborhood.

About the weather and the beach

It doesn’t always rain and, when it does, we don’t stay home. Despite this, we always live aware of weather apps.

Don’t trust the orbayu. It doesn’t seem like it, but it’s wet.
The weather is very changeable. There are days in summer when we go out with a swimsuit, an umbrella and a jacket, in case it gets cold.
The weather also varies greatly depending on the location, from the mountains to the coast. You have to look at whether the weather is better for the east or the west to choose the beach or the excursion.
We are very optimistic. In summer yes or yes we go to the beach, even if it is cloudy. We always wait for it to clear.
In Gijón/Xixón the climate is very temperate due to the sea. It doesn’t snow, nor is it very cold, nor very hot. Keep in mind that the time in the national media is given for everything Asturias. If it’s cold, it’s in the summer, ho!
Although we have very little thermal endurance: with less than 20 degrees we complain of cold and with more than 21 we already sweat as if it were a heat wave.
Where it is always good is in the Cuesta’l Cholo. There is a microclimate.
The Cantabrian Sea is not a wave pool. Pay attention to the flags and bathing areas.
The tide rises and falls. And yes, the sandy area appears and disappears approximately every six hours. Plan where you put your towel, especially on open beaches like San Lorenzo.

By folixa

If we look in the dictionary of the Asturian language, the folixa It is the action and effect of having a good time or the act of getting together to sing and dance.

If you are invited to a party, sign up without hesitation. It is an informal party where you eat, sing, dance and, above all, drink cider. Many are made in their own cisterns.
Throughout the year, all neighborhoods, towns and parishes have their ‘prau party‘ and we are passionate about them. There are even apps to be able to go ‘from folixa to folixa’. Put on comfortable shoes and clothes and dance to the latest hits.folixeros‘, accompanied, of course, by cider. And, to cover, pregnant buns.

Another traditional celebration is amagüestu. It is celebrated in autumn, when we get together to eat roasted chestnuts and drink cider ‘from sleep’ (sweet cider).
In Antroxu antroxamos. That is, at carnival we dress up. And, of course, we eat: Asturian stew, picadillo and frixuelos.

The land

We are very patriotic. You will always see a Asturias flag at any international event.

We don’t like them messing with Tierrina. La Tierrina is the mother. Only we can mess with her. In Gijón/Xixón the same thing happens with Sporting.
When we are at home, we don’t get along with those from Oviedo/Uviéu. Outside of Asturias, we hug each other like brothers.

We cry when listening to Asturias Patria Querida, which, in addition to being the anthem, closes any celebration. The toughest ones can’t help but shed a tear with Víctor Manuel’s Asturias.