December is the month of long nights. Rain, wind and cold are common in Asturias; it may snow at higher elevations, while the coast is usually milder and damp. Winter invites us to seek shelter, but the landscape remains alive beneath the dark sky.

The month: draw close and meet again

Bare trees reveal the pattern of their branches and streams keep flowing. At home, gatherings and shared meals help fill the short afternoons. Winter is not an empty season: it is a time for care, conversation and preparation for a new cycle.

The voice of the cave: the Cuélebre

The Cuélebre is a creature in Asturian legends, described as a huge winged serpent, like a dragon. In some stories it guards treasures or protects remote places. A dark cave may be just a cave; the story fills it with mystery and makes listeners wonder what lies inside.

Here we imagine the Cuélebre guarding what we want to preserve. This is a poetic reading, not a demonstrated original meaning of the legend.

Dumannios, an ancient name

Dumannios appears in the Coligny calendar, a Gaulish inscription found in France. Its meaning and equivalence with December are uncertain. There is no evidence of an ancient Asturian festival dedicated to the Cuélebre in this month.