Catalan Traditions for All Saints Day in Barcelona

How to spend All Saints Day like the Catalans!

For an authentic, Catalan experience during the long weekend of November 1st, forget about Halloween. The Catalan traditions for All Saints Day in Barcelona differ from the Celtic customs and neither pumpkin nor fancy dress is involved. However, get ready to put on some more kilos- very welcome in the cold winter temperatures, no? After all, you only live once!

In this article, ChicRoom Barcelona has listed some of the best traditions you will be able to see if you're lucky enough to be in Catalonia during this period.

Panellets

Photo by manelzaera on Visual hunt / CC BY-SA

Only available during this period of the year, we recommend you to include a stopover at the nearest cake shops when visiting Barcelona at this time. Rich in calories, those with a sweet tooth will fall in love with the delicacy. They are traditionally made of almonds, sugar, pine nuts, eggs and lemon zest and date back from the 18th century. Variants exist with chocolate, coffee and other ingredients. How could you resist them?

Chestnuts

Photo by Francesco Paggiaro on Pexels

The burnt smell of toasted chestnuts on a grill lit by coal brings back some nice memories of past autumns. Even if it’s cold outside you won’t hesitate to take off your gloves to devour them. Various street vendours sell them on the streets of Barcelona.

Sweet Potatoes

Photo by Nastasya Day on Pexels

With chestnuts and panellets, sweet potatoes are the other treats you can get to keep you warm. Find them being baked side by side with the chestnuts in the street stands. Sometimes used as the base of the panellets, they’re a good and healthier substitute to pumpkin pies, sweets and chocolate.

Moscatell

Photo by Valeria Boltneva on Pexels

Nothing is better than a glass of sweet Moscatell to accompany the feast of delights. Once you’ve downed it, you can even start the gluttony again more easily ;).

Visit to the Cemetery

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels

For many Catalans traditions still persist. The day after All Saints Day, on 2nd November, people pay respect and a visit deceased ancestors. Families usually go the cemetery and place a wreath on the graves and make the most of the opportunity to clean them. The Cemetery of Poblenou is one of the oldest one in town and has interesting modernist architecture.

Where to stay?

As cold temperatures are arriving, you’ll need a cosy accommodation. Why not add some luxury to it with exquisite interior design? No need to look further, ChicRoom Barcelona has what you’re looking for with our high-end holiday apartments in central locations of Barcelona. See what we have to offer today.

Casagrand Summum on ChicRoom Barcelona