Notes About Galicia

 Galicia is an old country sited in the west-end of Europe. There are almost 3 million inhabitants, with 100 inhabitants per square km. Although Galicia belongs to the Spanish state it is very different from typical Spain. For instance, we are neither toreadors nor flamenco singers or dancers, instead of this we play bagpipes and believe in woods with goblins.

A Celtic Country

Galicia is a Celtic country like Ireland and other western countries in Europe. In the Middle Age, Galicia was a kingdom with territories extending to the north of current Portugal (Braga city was one of the capital cities of Galicia) and the north-west of Spain, apart from the current Galicia territories. It was at this time when pilgrims from Central Europe (France, Germany, Austria, England) came to Santiago (Saint Jacobs) traversing the territories of the north of Spain known at this time in Central Europe as 'Jacobsland'. The rest of current Spain was a Muslim country in those eight centuries (from VIII to XV century).

In memory to our common roots with Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Brittany, every year we celebrate "The Celtic World Festival" in one of these countries. When in Galicia, the site is always the little town of Ortigueira -the name meaning nettle place-, in the north coast of Galicia, near Corunna city.

The Landscape

The countryside is a never-ending sequence of hills and valleys with streams and rivers. Most of the population of Galicia lives in villages surrounded by woods with oaks, pines and chestnut trees. Nevertheless, there are only a few isolated houses. On the contrary, villages are within walking distance, around 2 or 3 miles. All the houses are made up of stone mainly because Galicia is plently of granite and slate -now exported all over the world; look around, if you see a pink granite building it is undoubtedly from Galicia.

The Coastline

Few coastlines in the world are like Galicia's rias. If you know how fiords of Norway look, do the following and you can figure out how the coast of Galicia looks like. First double or triple the wideness of the fiord, then shrink the mountains to half height while stretching it backwards. Put enough beaches of white granite sand. Then increase the number of villages extending from the top of the mountains to the seaside. Finally put other than firs trees. Do not forget to increase the temperature up to 15 or to 25 degrees Celsius depending on the season.

Galicia and Argentina

As other Celtic people, the Galician emigrated to other countries, mainly to America. But, unlike the Irish who emigrated to North America, the Galician went to Argentina (south-end of America) where the landscape and the weather are more similar to those of Galicia, and also due to the Spanish colonization of South America. The rest of central and middle south America was colonized by south-Spaniards (Castilians and Andalusians), the typical Spaniard! A lot of people in Argentina still have close relationships with their ancestors in Galicia. This is the reason why, for instance, 'Galician' is used in Argentina, instead of the name 'Spaniard' to refer to every Spaniard descendant.

The Houses of Galicia

The photo of Corunna Downtown shows the typical house of Galicia. The front of the house is completely a veranda with glass. The reason is, of course, the usual weather of Galicia. It is raining most of the winter and sunny days are few -though not in summer! However, temperature is fine all the year, almost every day, between 15 and 25 degrees. So, Galicia is neither like Mediterranean Spain, nor like Northern Europe where winter is in black and white.

Some Historical Notes About Galicia

The End of Francis Drake, 400 Years Ago

The end of F. Drake began in Corunna city. On May 4, 1589 an attack to Corunna city started by F. Drake in charge of an armada composed of 150 ships, 5000 crew, 15000 army. This armada was the reprisal of Queen Elizabeth to the ''Armada Invencible'' that departed from Corunna bay one year before. The marquis of Cerralbo in charge of the defence of Corunna and the bravery of the inhabitants led to the retreat of this force ten times bigger than that of Corunna city, two weeks later. They lose more than 1000 men and two dozens of their ships deserted. This was the first time F. Drake had to retreat.

F. Drake died January 28, 1596 -400 years ago- in travel to Portobello escaping from the Spanish army in the Caribbean Sea.

See also: History of Galicia from the Government of Galicia.

 

© Ramon P. Otero. All rights reserved. October 1997.