The Castanyada: a Catalan alternative to Halloween
Every year on the eve of All Saints Day, which happens to also be Halloween for America, Catalans celebrate the "Castanyada," a dinner of sweet potatoes, roasted castanyes (chestnuts) from which the word "castanyada" is derived and panellets (almond-based cookies). It is traditionally served with a special wine. This Catalan holiday differs from many others in
that it is celebrated in the home with family over dinner rather than in
the streets with music, dance and other activities.
During this time of the year, walking through Barcelona and surrounding towns, one will find street vendors roasting chestnuts and sweet potatoes where long cues form to get their hands on these sweet and healthy treats. Since the weather drops quite a bit at this time of year, it is a real delight to warm up the body with these piping hot, freshly-roasted snacks.
The traditional figure from this holiday is the castanyera (the chestnut-roaster), depicted by the image of an old woman in a skirt with apron and a headscarf, bent over a grill. This image is part of the collective memory of the origins of the Castanyada and has been immortalized in popular children's songs as well as through drawings and stories.
Thank you so much for explaining this to me, as with the giants, I've asked a number of people what is going on with the panellets and castanyeres, but everyone seems to have only a vague idea. Finally it makes sense!
Thank you so much for explaining this to me, as with the giants, I've asked a number of people what is going on with the panellets and castanyeres, but everyone seems to have only a vague idea. Finally it makes sense!
ReplyDeleteIf you ever have any questions, you can always ask us - and by us, I mean Kilian, the true Catalan.
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