The lareira, which is similar to a chimney, was the core of the Galician household. Life flew around its fire. It was a place for cooking and eating, for speaking and telling stories, either fun or scary, for singing, playing, and dreaming. The lareira warmed people’s existence.
In our house, the lareira keeps being a gathering place, and the fire presides over our living room in any season of the year when the weather is appropriate. The fire roasts chestnuts in the autumn, dries the boots after a rainy day, and accompanies conversations.
The fire is not just a decorative element, in Casa Lourán fire is full of life.