{"id":2509,"date":"2021-10-25T12:02:27","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T10:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stepsintospain.es\/?p=2509"},"modified":"2026-01-12T19:07:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:07:11","slug":"how-to-celebrate-halloween-in-madrid-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stepsintospain.es\/es\/how-to-celebrate-halloween-in-madrid-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Celebrate Halloween in Madrid 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

Insights into living overseas : Halloween in Madrid, Spain<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

For families that are beginning to settle into their overseas experience in Madrid, Halloween can be a fun festival that reassures the whole family that some traditions do indeed cross borders, cultures and languages. Halloween gives new families a chance to show how Halloween is celebrated in their home country by inviting friends over for trick or treat or apple bobbing. Others don costumes and decide to brave the witches, spooks and zombies that roam the capital\u2019s streets and urbanizaciones<\/em> for one terrifying night.<\/p>\n

What to expect over Halloween if you live in Madrid<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Whether it is Halloween-themed food, entertainment or scary costumes, the Spanish capital city does not disappoint. Despite some vocal opposition from the Catholic Church in Spain, Spanish families have embraced the more commercial, generically American aspects of Halloween (such as pumpkin carving and trick or treating) whilst also conserving their own traditions wrapped around All Saint\u2019s Day (1st<\/sup> November). Furthermore, keen third culture observers note with some delight that hybrid cultural spin offs have been gaining traction in 21st<\/sup> century Madrid, \u00a0such as delicious bu\u00f1uelo <\/em>mini-doughnuts being offered with sweet pumpkin paste filling, for example, alongside traditional fillings.<\/p>\n

Hit or miss school celebrations<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

With opposition to celebrating Halloween in schools coming from several fronts, it is not uncommon to find that your child\u2019s school decides not to observe Halloween, either because they dismiss it as being an unwelcome American import or because it is goes against traditional Catholic beliefs by celebrating death and darkness rather than life and light. However, since 2010 some parish schools have embraced an idea promoted by the diocese of Alcal\u00e1 de Henares to celebrate \u201cHolywins<\/a>\u201d at schools rather than Halloween. Apart from being a clever play on words (which is more striking when voiced by a native Spanish speaker) this idea was the brainchild of a local bishop who wanted to promote the idea of holiness overcoming death, encouraging young children to dress up as saints on Halloween, rather than as ghouls or zombies.<\/p>\n

If your school does go along the traditional Halloween route, be prepared for a proliferation of quite startling masks indeed, especially since face painting is now no longer permitted due to Covid19 best practice policies. Costume shops and supermarkets sell a fascinating range of truly ghoulish masks for children as young as three years old. COSTUMES ARE DEFINITELY SCARIER HERE! Take a look here<\/a>, if you dare. Never fear, the ubiquitous skeleton onesie or cute witch outfit are always in the vicinity too.<\/p>\n

Delightful traditional sweets for Spanish All Saint\u2019s Day \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Every October the air of Madrid fills with the smell of roasted chestnuts, hailing the beginning of autumn. \u00a0Shortly afterwards, other seasonal delights adorn traditional Spanish confectioners\u2019 windows and displays. \u00a0For a limited period of time, small and tempting deep fried dough cakes (bu\u00f1uelos<\/em>) are available to purchase by the kilo or dozen from bakeries across the city. These celebration doughnuts are filled with cream custard, whipped cream, coffee cream, chocolate spread, sweet pumpkin paste or fruit compotes.\u00a0 Served as afternoon tea or as a special dessert, your children are sure to enjoy them as much as young madrile\u00f1os<\/em> who have grown up with the tradition.<\/p>\n

The other popular baked good that pops up at the end of October and again at Easter are the interestingly named saints bones<\/em><\/a> marzipan sweets. These delicious marzipan rolls are filled with sweet egg yolk paste which can be described as resembling bone and marrow. This traditional Spanish sweet is consumed in honour of the dead, in a gesture that celebrates their passing to heavenly life<\/a> rather than any macabre or cannibalistic suggestions.<\/p>\n

Things to do over Halloween:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n