José María Gabriel y Galán facts for kids
José María Gabriel y Galán (born June 28, 1870, in Frades de la Sierra, Salamanca) was a famous Spanish poet. He wrote in both the Castilian and Extremaduran languages. He passed away on January 6, 1905, in Guijo de Granadilla, Cáceres, Spain.
He worked as a teacher in Guijuelo (Salamanca) and Piedrahíta (Ávila). His poems often talked about traditional values. He wrote about family, simple country life, and his strong beliefs.
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His Early Life and Education
José María was born into a farming family. They owned their own land. He spent his childhood in his hometown and went to school there. When he was 15, he moved to Salamanca to continue his studies. He also started working in a fabric store around this time. His first poems were written during these early years.
In 1888, he finished his studies to become a school teacher. He got a job in Guijuelo, which was about 20 kilometers from his hometown. After a short time in Guijuelo, he went to Madrid. He studied at the Escuela Normal Central, a special school for teachers. He did not like Madrid very much. He even called it 'Modernópolis' in some of his letters.
Becoming a Teacher
After finishing his studies, he was sent to Piedrahíta. This town is in the Ávila province. Here, he used his new teaching skills. During this time, he felt quite sad and lonely. He even signed his letters to friends as "El Solitario," which means "The solitary one."
In these years, he developed a thoughtful and sometimes sad personality. He had very strong religious beliefs. He learned these beliefs from his mother, Bernarda. You can see these strong beliefs in many of his poems.
A New Chapter in Life
His life changed a lot when he met Desideria. He called her "Mi vaquerilla," meaning "my little cowgirl." This change became even deeper after they got married. Their wedding was on January 26, 1898, in Plasencia.
After marrying, he quit his job as a teacher. He moved to Guijo de Granadilla, in the province of Cáceres. There, he managed a large farm called El Tejar. This farm belonged to his wife's uncle. Living there gave him the peace and quiet he needed. It was here that he truly developed his unique poetic style. When his first son, Jesús, was born in 1898, he wrote El Cristu Benditu. This was the first of his famous Extremeñas poems.
José María Gabriel y Galán died on January 6, 1905. He passed away from pneumonia.
Today, the town hall of Guijo de Granadilla keeps his house as a museum. You can see his handwritten poems and personal items there. His family donated these items.
His Poetic Works
José María Gabriel y Galán's poetry was different from the popular styles of his time. He wrote about traditional ideas and values. His poems often defended family, heritage, and the simple life of farmers. He also used many old words in his poems. These words helped to show the customs of an earlier time.
Collections of Poems
Here are some of his well-known collections of poems:
- Castellanas (published in 1902)
- Extremeñas (published in 1902)
- Campesinas (published in 1904)
- Nuevas Castellanas (published in 1905)
- Religiosas (published in 1906)
His writings inspired many other writers who came after him. Some of these writers include:
- Mario Simón Arias-Camisón
- Luis Chamizo Trigueros
- Miguel and Elisa Herrero Uceda
See also
In Spanish: José María Gabriel y Galán para niños
- Las Hurdes
