Rachel's Adventures in Spain : Castanyada

There is a special festival celebrated in Catalonia and Galicia in October. It is called the 'Castanyada'. It is celebrated in those parts of Spain and is connected with Halloween and the Christian festival of 'All Saint´s Day' on the 1st of November. In this celebration, its origins are the celebration and rememberance of the dead. In Catalonia the food eaten on this day is chestnuts. It came from the 18th century tradition where people would roast chestnuts (castanyes in Catalan) and is symbolic of those people who died. While the chestnuts were roasting, people would say prayers for those who had departed this world.

It is still a tradition which carries on today and on Monday the school celebrated this event. Parents were invited to watch and participate. There were no English classes, however the children made cones out of newspapers and the girls dressed up with headscarves and shawls to represent the old ladies who sold the chestnuts many years ago. The boys dressed up as well, looking a lot like Christmas elves. The festival started with the music teacher Pep playing some traditional songs, then children from each class read a poem or a story about the traditions. Then parents, teachers and children were involved in a special Catalan dance (I will try and attach a video of it). After the dance finished, the children sat in their classes, in circles and some men came in with newly roasted chestnuts. Then we helped take the chestnuts out of the buckets and into our newspaper cones, peeling at the shell and eating at the chewy goodness inside. It was certainly an interesting experience and I enjoy learning about different traditions around the world.

Enjoy the photos of this special day.