Xosé Neira Vilas passed away on 27 November. He was a celebrated Galician writer that wrote about many themes but in particular two constants of the Galician experience: village life and emigration. The following is an excerpt from the novel Memories of a Country Boy.
Antonio Quesada (Ourense). Oil on wood.
by Manuel Luís Acuña (A Podra de Trives, Ourense)
from Fírgoas (Crevices), 1933
“There is also someone that exists who thinks that one can support Celta and Deportivo at the same time. But that person is foolish like me.” A wonderful essay by Manuel Rivas.
Forty years ago today, in 1975, Francisco Franco died in Madrid. On July 18, 1936, he led a military uprising that ruled Spain for forty years. Galician artist Maruxa Mallo fled the country shortly after the uprising, and in 1938 she wrote a four-part series based on first-hand accounts by Galicians of the brutality of the military coup. Here is the first part, translated to English.
Carlos Maside. 1931
Carlos Maside. 1953.
Mouchos, curuxas, sapos e bruxas. Demos, trasgos e diaños, espíritos das neboadas veigas. / Owls, barn owls, toads and witches. Demons, goblins and devils, spirits of the misty vales.
From a flaming spirit to ward away evil spirits to a world-class wines, Galician libations are top-notch and diverse. These are my top five favorite Galician drinks.
O Faro 