If you visit Barcelona at the end of October, you will probably come across Halloween parties, costumes and pumpkins.
But in Catalonia, these dates are also marked by another tradition: La Castanyada, a traditional Catalan celebration connected to Tots Sants, or All Saints’ Day, on November 1, and to the remembrance of those who have passed away.
During this time, chestnuts, roasted sweet potatoes and panellets appear in homes, bakeries and streets across Barcelona. And there is one Tots Sants tradition in Barcelona that is particularly worth knowing about.
Tots Sants and Montjuïc Cemetery
November 1 is Tots Sants, traditionally a day to remember those who have died. One of the customs associated with the day is visiting cemeteries, cleaning graves and bringing flowers.
In Barcelona, this tradition is especially visible at Montjuïc Cemetery. Families visit the graves of their loved ones, while the graves of important figures from Catalan history and culture are also remembered and decorated with flowers.
So Tots Sants is not simply another date in the calendar. It is also a way of remembering and honouring those who are no longer with us.
Chestnuts, Sweet Potatoes and Panellets
And then there are the flavours of La Castanyada.
Traditionally, around Tots Sants, people eat roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and panellets. In Barcelona, you may also come across castanyeres selling hot chestnuts and sweet potatoes on the streets.
Panellets are small traditional Catalan sweets particularly associated with Tots Sants. Their history is connected to the celebrations and offerings for the dead, and it is traditionally said that their round shape resembles a rosary.
And this tradition has a fascinating history in Barcelona.
By the end of the eighteenth century, fairs selling chestnuts and panellets were already taking place in what is now Ciutat Vella. So when you walk into a Barcelona bakery and see displays of panellets at the end of October, you are looking at a tradition that has been part of the city’s autumn calendar for more than two centuries.
La Castanyada and Halloween
Today, La Castanyada and Halloween coexist in Barcelona. Halloween has become part of the celebrations at the end of October, while the traditional Catalan celebration continues around Tots Sants.
And perhaps that is what makes Barcelona in autumn so interesting. You might come across costumes and pumpkins, but you can also find a castanyera, a bag of warm chestnuts and a tray of traditional panellets.
La Castanyada is just one of the many Catalan traditions that give Barcelona its own character throughout the year. If you want to discover more, take a look at our article on Catalan Traditions: Customs, Food and Celebrations to Know Before Visiting Barcelona.
I hope you’ve enjoyed discovering a little more about one of Catalonia’s autumn traditions.
Bye Bye! See you in my next post!
