November 1 is Día de Todos los Santos or All Saints' Day in Spain and is a national holiday. No matter where you go in the country, it is traditional to visit cemetery, bring flowers, and remember those who are no longer with us.
Día de Todos los Santos
Although All Saints' Day in Spain is celebrated on the first day of November, according to Christian doctrine, All Souls' Day is November 2. However, for many years these dates have coincided, as many people took advantage of the holiday to spend as much time as necessary in the cemetery visiting the graves of their loved ones. Likewise, the harvest of some fruits begins on November 1, so this fusion of three elements makes it possible to find many kinds of celebrations throughout Spain.
One of these harvests has to do with the gathering of chestnuts. Thus, for example, in many towns in Galicia, Cantabria, Catalonia, Aragon, Asturias, Andalusia, and Castile and León, “castañadas” or “magostos” are celebrated, where these fruits are served roasted or prepared in different ways, usually in sweets.
Chestnuts, walnuts, and other nuts also play a leading role on this day in Ceuta. There, they celebrate “backpack day,” when citizens head out to spend a day in the mountains tasting these fruits.
In Cadiz, a unique celebration takes place on the eve of All Saints' Day or “Tosantos.” Since the 19th century, municipal markets have been decked out for the festivities, organizing open days for visitors and even “dressing up their products” in what could be called a completely commercial carnival.
Another commercial event is the “All Saints' Fair” in Concentaina (Alicante), which has been held since 1346 and is the second oldest agricultural fair in Spain.
But All Saints' Day also has a place for art, especially theater. Until very recently, it was traditional to perform José Zorrilla's play Don Juan Tenorio on this day. The theme and background were ideal: the rebellious sinner who, among the dead, achieves redemption in the twilight of his life. Nowadays, there is not as much enthusiasm for this play, but in some cities and towns we can still see it on this special day.
It is curious how the solemn, the festive, the informal, and the cultural can come together in a single day. If you want to see a recreation of All Saints' Day in Spanish cinema, the film Volver by Pedro Almodóvar is a wonderful option.
Traditional All Saints' Day sweets
As with other national holidays in Spain, All Saints' Day has its own traditional sweets that are only available during this time of year.
Buñuelos de viento
Buñuelos de viento are fried doughnuts that can be filled with cream, chocolate, whipped cream, or any other ingredient. There is evidence that this dessert already existed before the 17th century, as a cook in the court of King Philip II mentioned its preparation. According to tradition, eating one of these sweets helps to free a soul from purgatory, which is why they have become an emblematic dessert of All Saints' Day.
Huesos de santo
Huesos de santo are marzipan creations shaped like small tubes, approximately the thickness of a finger. Although their name suggests otherwise, they are not actually bone-shaped; they are so called because, after being cooked and dipped in syrup, they take on a beige color like that of bones. Traditionally, they are filled with egg yolk cream, although nowadays you can find versions with chocolate, jam, coconut, banana, and other flavors.
Panellets
Panellets are typical Catalan sweets made from almonds, potatoes, sugar, and pine nuts. In the days leading to All Saints' Day, bakeries throughout Catalonia offer them a special treat. It is also customary to accompany them with a glass of muscatel wine, following local tradition.