Castanyada

La Castanyada (Halloween in English) is a popular festival in the Catalan Countries, celebrated especially in Catalonia. It was celebrated on All Saints' Day, although its celebration has recently ben moved to the eve of this day between 31 October and 1 November.

Like the Halloween of the Anglo-Saxon countries, or the Magosto of the Asturian, Leonese or Galician lands, or also the Samhain , the Catalan chestnut comes from an ancient funeral ritual festival. It consists of a meal in which chestnuts, panellets, sweet potatoes and candied fruit are eaten. The typical drink of the 'chestnut' is muscatel. Around this celebration, chestnut trees sell roasted and hot chestnuts on the street, and are usually wrapped in newspaper or measuring paper. In Occitania, the castanada is also celebrated, but not associated with All Saints' Day, but as a celebration or autumn festival.