Less Halloween, more Castanyada – Holidays in Barcelona

Instead of chocolate and sweets, Barcelonian people cerebrate Halloween with something more special.  It´s still sweet and delicious, but maybe a bit healthier and a bit more farther from the Anglo-American habits. If you are in Barcelona and see people walking on the street eating something from a strange newspaper horn… that means the Castanyada had begun!

What is Castanyada?

Castanyada is a Catalan tradition at Halloween. It starts on the 1st of November and it means chestnut time. However Castanyada is only one day, it´s just the beginning of the chestnut period which lasts for the whole winter time.

Apart from "castanyes" (roasted chestnuts) they also eat "moniatos" (sweet potatoes) and "panellets" (cakes), too and when they get thirsty they choose muscatel sweet wine.

From November till February you can find chestnuts on almost every corner, where  “castanyers i castanyeres" roast them on charcoal grills. The sweat scent they produce while roasting will make you stop and try it. Even harder to resist them when they cost like nothing: a bag of 12 chestnuts is around € 2.50 and a sweet potato goes for around €4.

What are Panellets? 

Panellets are small, round and sweet cakes usually made in different types. The most common one is ground almonds in dough covered with pine nuts but as there´s a huge variety of panellets you can find many other with chocholate, lemon or coconut.

Where to sleep in Barcelona?

If you are about to visit Barcelona, but still don´t have a place to sleep, don´t look further! Check out our cozy, friendly hostels in the heart of the city!