Today, November 1st, is All Saints day (Todos los Santos), a public holiday and a time when the
Spanish remember the dearly departed, often holding all night candle-lit vigils in the local cemetery. People from all over the country return to their town or village of birth to lay flowers on the graves of deceased relatives.
As with many other festivals and celebrations in Spain there are a number of special dishes which are associated with Todos los Santos. There is a tradition of eating roasted chestnuts (castañas) as well as small almond cakes (pannellets).
The chestnut tradition derives from the legend of Maria La Castañada, a chestnut seller, about whom there are many tales.