La Castanyada: Tradition and Flavour in Catalonia

La Castanyada is a popular festivity in Catalonia that has been celebrated for centuries, with chestnuts as a symbol of unity between family and friends. Although the official day of the festival is the first day of November, coinciding with All Saints' Day, it is tradition to celebrate it at the end of October, at sunset.  

With BusPlana, you can travel to your preferred location to enjoy La Castanyada, whether in Barcelona or in towns in the Camp de Tarragona region, such as Salou, l'Hospitalet de l'Infant, El Morell or La Pobla de Mafumet. You can check all the timetables for our regular routes on our website. We are also the official airport transport provider, so you can purchase official tickets online for your transfers from Barcelona Airport to Costa Dorada.  

What to eat on La Castanyada?  

On this day, the traditional foods are chestnuts roasted over a fire, panellets, sweet potatoes and candied fruit, accompanied by sweet wine or Muscatel.  

Nowadays, this day can be celebrated in many ways, but what stands out this week are gatherings with loved ones.  

Likewise, many families have a tradition of getting together in the days leading up to the festivity to make the popular panellets at home. Panellets are delicious little sweets that come in various shapes and flavours, the most traditional being pine nuts, chopped almonds or grated coconut, among other options. For this year's Castanyada, bakeries are expected to introduce new versions of gourmet panellets, such as matcha tea or exotic fruit.  

The origins of La Castanyada  

Its origins date back to ancient pagan funeral traditions that merged with the celebration of All Saints' Day around the 18th century. Originally, banquets were held to honour the deceased, where chestnuts, panellets and other foods such as sweet potatoes and drinks such as white wine or Muscatel were consumed to gain energy and stay awake during night vigils. This custom evolved into the current family celebration.  

Roasting chestnuts on the bonfire was considered an act of connection with the souls of the deceased. In fact, while roasting them, many people prayed the three parts of the rosary. Also, in honour of the deceased, bells were rung manually throughout the night, which required great stamina and therefore had to be accompanied by a good dinner.  

The figure of the Castanyera: from traditional icon to generational change  

The Castanyera is undoubtedly the most endearing and emblematic figure of this festive day, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia. In the past, these women, of humble origins, dressed in clothes that could withstand the low temperatures: long, wide skirts, a sturdy black wool apron and a scarf tied tightly around their head or neck like a hood. Their job was to keep small street stalls open in busy streets — especially those leading to cemeteries — roasting and dispensing chestnuts, always served hot in paper cones.  

The Castanyera in the 21st century: the baton passed to the younger generation  

Today, this venerable tradition has found continuity in the younger generations. It is common for children and teenagers to take over, especially students or members of various associations. In the days leading up to La Castanyada, these young people set up their stalls with bonfires and pans, roasting chestnuts on the spot and selling them, often along with freshly baked sweet potatoes.  

An important celebration in schools  

The celebration is marked with great enthusiasm in schools, where each centre adapts the celebration in its own way. The activities are varied and seek to involve students in the spirit of the festival: creative workshops, such as making paper cones; artistic projects that include painting collective murals and decorating the school for autumn; Folklore and music, learning and dancing to popular songs, with Dàmaris Gelabert's ‘La Castanyera’ being a fundamental part of the repertoire. Finally, the day reaches its climax with the pupils dressed as chestnut sellers, sharing the sweetest tradition: eating chestnuts together.  

Family activities  

If you want to immerse yourself and experience La Castanyada, we recommend the following activities for this autumn:  

In Barcelona, each neighbourhood organises events from 30th October to 2nd November, combining the traditional festival with a Halloween theme, ‘Castaween’, with tunnels of terror, witch nights and panellets workshops. More than a hundred free activities for all ages are spread across the city's ten districts.  

On Friday 31st, Salou will celebrate the Panellet Festival in Plaça del Carrilet at 10 am, with inflatables, workshops and games for children, as part of the Castanyada and ‘Salouween’ celebrations. This festival combines Catalan tradition with the spirit of Halloween through activities for all ages.  

L'Hospitalet de l'Infant will celebrate CastaHalloween on 31st October from 6.15 pm at the old train station. There will be a parade through the town's shopping area. This year's route will be longer, allowing children to visit more than twenty local shops participating in the trick-or-treat game. 

In El Morell, this Friday the 31st, the afternoon will be full of atmosphere, tradition and fun with the activity ‘Chestnuts and Witches,’ an event that combines La Castanyada and Halloween in a single day. At 4:30 pm, the Plaça Francesc Macià will welcome the Castanyera and the Castanyot, and at 5 pm the parade will begin towards the Rambla, where Castaween will fill the streets with floats, costumes and characters for the whole family to enjoy. 

La Pobla de Mafumet is organising the Great Monster Parade on the 31st, starting at 7:30 p.m. It is a parade featuring all kinds of monsters and terrifying characters.  

At BusPlana, we provide you with the timetables for our regular routes, which you can check on our website so that you can travel to your destination without any worries. Don't forget that we are the official airport transport service. You can purchase official tickets online for your transfer from Barcelona Airport to Costa Dorada.  

Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy such a special day as La Castanyada.