---
title: "Romería"
slug: romeria
definition: "Popular Asturian festival centered on a chapel or shrine, combining religious rite and celebration. It's the living context where the Asturian gaita is heard most."
synonyms: ["Asturian romería", "fiesta de prau"]
publishedAt: 2026-06-17
---
The **romería** is the popular festival tied to a chapel or shrine: a day
that unites the religious part —procession, mass— with celebration on
the prau, with food, dancing and music.

It's the natural setting of **Asturian traditional music**. That's where
the gaita sounds: the alborada that opens the morning, the march that
accompanies the saint, the xirandillas and muiñeiras for dancing. The
romería isn't a reconstruction for tourists, but the context where the
repertoire still fulfills its function.

That's why it's one of the keys to understanding the Asturian gaita: it
wasn't born for the concert stage, but to accompany the life of the
community.