Historically La Castanyada was to honour saints and dead ancestors, when whole villages kept vigil all night with the church bells ringing throughout the night.
The villagers would eat 'Castanyes' roast chestnuts, 'moniatos' roast sweet potatoes and 'panallets' small almond balls covered in pine nuts these high energy foods along with copious amounts of Mucsat in porrons were served to stop people from passing out with exhaustion from the lack of sleep and the effort of ringing the heavy church bells.
All saints day is also the day that the Spanish visit cemeteries taking flowers and sprinkling holy water on loved ones graves, the chrysanthemum is the traditional flower of remembrance.
There is also a special All saints cake 'ossos de sant' which is white and bone shaped.
treat yourself to some roast chestnuts
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