La Castanyada, Tosantos, and Halloween in Spain

The last night of October in Spain layers several traditions that usher in the national holiday of All Saints’ Day on November 1. In Catalonia, families celebrate La Castanyada with roasted chestnuts, sweet potatoes and panellets. In Andalusia, the Tosantos festivity transforms markets with humour and seasonal produce. Alongside these customs, Halloween has grown in popularity in major cities, adding costumes and themed concerts to the evening. The result is a varied, locally rooted way to close the month.

La Castanyada (Catalonia)

Barcelona’s streets fill with the smoke and aroma of chestnut braziers, and bakeries display trays of pine-nut-topped marzipan sweets. Simple and home-centred, La Castanyada focuses on flavours tied to remembrance and the autumn harvest rather than large public spectacles. For visitors, stalls and pastry shops provide a delicious self-guided tour through seasonal Catalan tastes.

Tosantos (Andalusia)

Markets in Cádiz, Málaga and other cities decorate stalls for contests that often satirise current events, while tastings highlight the best of the season. The festivity aims to preserve Andalusian market culture in the face of imported customs, keeping the focus on food, wit and community. It is a lively, photogenic tradition that pairs naturally with a late-October city break in the south.

Halloween and Cultural Crossovers

Clubs and cultural venues in cities like Barcelona and Madrid host themed nights, escape rooms and horror attractions. In Alcalá de Henares, the night is dedicated to an open-air performance of Don Juan Tenorio, staged by torchlight in the historic Plaza de Cervantes—a literary counterpart to the season’s more playful outings.

Planning Notes

• Closures: November 1 is a national holiday; plan shopping and museum visits accordingly.
• Balance: It’s easy to taste chestnuts in Barcelona by late afternoon and catch a Halloween concert the same night.