La Castanyada, origins and curiosities
La Castanyada, origins and curiosities As October comes to an end, one of the most traditional and deeply rooted celebrations in Catalonia begins: la Castanyada. This festival, celebrated on All Saints’ Day, is a time for gathering with family and friends around a fire, sharing roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and panellets, and remembering the roots of this very special tradition. Origins and history of La Castanyada In centuries past, families would gather to remember the deceased by eating chestnuts, a fruit symbolizing strength and the earth’s abundance. The celebration was accompanied by religious rituals and communal gatherings where chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and panellets were always present, just as they are