The spooky season in Spain
As every year, social media celebrates the arrival of the spooky season in Spain, and all over the world, that period of just over a month at the beginning of autumn when our lives are filled with the first storms, pumpkin sweets, cold weather, costumes, and the Day of the Dead, or “Día de los Difuntos” or “Santos Inocentes”, as we call it in Spain.
Traditionally, November 1st, the Day of the Dead, has been celebrated in Spain in a very different way from the current Halloween. Families would dress in black and remember their deceased by going to the cemetery to clean the graves of their loved ones and place fresh flowers on them. Many still do this. The cemeteries in Madrid extend their opening hours, the city hall organizes special buses to get there, and families gather together.
Some of the most traditional and delicious sweets in Madrid’s pastry-making include buñuelos de viento, fried dough filled with whipped cream, custard, truffle, and others, and huesos de santo, a type of marzipan filled with sweet egg yolk.
If you’re interested in make the best of the spooky season in Spain to visit some interesting cemeteries, Madrid has several, such as the Almudena Cemetery, the largest in Europe, which features a monumental area with graves of prominent families from the 19th century in the city. Across from it is the civil cemetery, where politicians from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as famous writers like Pío Baroja and Blas de Otero, are buried. Another beautiful place is the hidden English cemetery, a British enclave in Madrid, which opens only three times a week and is a lovely romantic spot in the south of the city.
Foto de Edescas de la entrada al cementerio británico de Madrid.
Of course, today there are many other ways to celebrate the spooky season in Madrid, the Day of the Dead, and traditions from other countries and cultures have also spread in Spain. For example, the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration is certainly very different. This year, the Casa de México is bringing the Day of the Dead festivities to Madrid, just as they are celebrated in Mexico. There, the day becomes a true celebration of life, where the dead and the living merge in a day full of family gatherings, food, and visits to cemeteries. The programme at Casa de México includes mask-making workshops, papel picado (perforated paper), and a film series.
Foto de Iván Alexis Huerta Reyna. El paseo de la ánimas.
Halloween in Madrid is celebrated with a blend of local traditions and Anglo-Saxon customs, creating a unique festive atmosphere. During the spooky season in Spain, the city of Madrid is filled with spooky decorations, from carved pumpkins to ghosts adorning the streets and shops. Bars and restaurants offer themed menus and organize costume parties, where both locals and tourists dress up as witches, vampires, and other creatures of the night. Additionally, many families participate in activities like “trick or treat” in their neighbourhoods, and parks host special events for children. Undoubtedly, Halloween in Madrid is a vibrant experience that combines Spanish culture with the spirit of this international celebration.
At Cronopios, we want to celebrate All Saints’ Day, the Day of the Dead, or Halloween, with our students through a festive day at the school, an open day for you to get to know our school and have fun. There will be food and drinks, and a lot of free activities for you to practice your Spanish while playing. It’s also a great opportunity to meet people, speak Spanish with natives, and connect with other Spanish students in Madrid.
On Wednesday, October 29th, the school is organizing this open day, where we will have games, free Spanish workshops, a costume contest, and after all that, a party with food and drinks to wrap up the day. Come and join us, don´t miss the best of the spooky season in Spain.
