Castañada
castanyada magosta magosto magusto traditional festival iberian peninsula popular portugal galicia area northern spain cantabria asturias catalonia province león zamora salamanca cáceres also part canary island festival also celebrated side frenchspanish border also spread internationally chestnut party etymological origin unknown several theory magosto name magnus ustus great fire magum ustum highlighting magical character fire festival celtic root celebrates end summer beginning winter region celebrated especially galicia deeply related cult dead customary leave fire house lit place food around fireplace welcome back spirit deceased member family numerous traditional ritual celebrated throughout feast related purification healing remembering ancestor attending mass visiting local healer magosto magusto essential galician portuguese autumn pagan origin festival similar gaelic samhain samaín word adapted galician irish gaelic addition chestnut local young wine various food incorporated sausage product made pig slaughter occurs time year traditionally grilled sardine also served great delicacy region chestnut festival traditionally celebrated grove souto starting early afternoon collect firewood chestnut one bonfire lit stick pine needle young people take street customary girl bring chestnut boy bring wine chestnut roasted floor directly fire child play donned soot ash adult dance sing jumping remains fire case ourense festival celebrated coinciding festivity patron st martin tour november known st martin day widespread custom go nearby mountain case city one used purpose monte alegre light bonfire pork sausage chestnut roasted occasion used taste new wine harvest catalonia celebration involve eating castanyes roasted chestnut panellets special almond ball covered pine nut moniatos roast baked sweet potato ossos de sant cake preserved fruit candied glazed fruit moscatell muscat drunk porrons around time celebration common street vendor sell hot toasted chestnut wrapped newspaper many place confectioner often organise raffle chestnut preserved fruit seems tradition eating food come fact saint night eve soul day christian tradition bell ringer would ring bell commemoration dead early morning friend relative would help task everyone would eat food sustenance version story state castanyada originates end th century come old funeral meal food vegetable dried fruit served meal symbolic significance communion soul departed chestnut roasting prayer would said person died festival usually depicted figure castanyera old lady dressed peasant clothing wearing headscarf sitting behind table roasting chestnut street sale recent year castanyada become revetlla saint celebrated home community first four main school festival alongside christmas carnestoltes st george day without reference ritual commemoration dead la castanyada explained child petitaxarxacat archived wayback machine catalan