When autumn appears, the landscapes change color, temperatures drop and puddles of rain leave reflections of trees that want to lose their leaves. It’s a special season, in which we want to slow down and get a little closer to the aromas and flavors of the land. A time full of traditions, closely linked to the earth and its cycles, and where historically there has always been much to celebrate.
Throughout Spain, this evocative period gives rise to a large number of popular festivals that celebrate the very essence of autumn. From harvests and gastronomy to history and ancestral beliefs, the country is adorned with festivities that allow you to enjoy the local culture, savor the typical products of the season and discover the customs that have persisted over the years. centuries.
So if we travel a little to discover these rituals that revolve around nature, the fruits of the fields and the most popular events, we will see that autumn is full of celebrations of all kinds. From the famous Pujerra Chestnut Festival to the Orujo Festival in Potes, through the fascinating Samaín in Galicia or the festivities dedicated to mushrooms, we find a Spain that abandons itself to the rhythm of autumn and we invites you to be part of its traditions.
Chestnut Festival in Pujerra (Málaga)
In the heart of the Genal Valley, the small town of Pujerra pays homage every year to the chestnut, one of the most important products of its local economy and culture. The Chestnut Festival, which coincides with the day of the patron saint of the municipality, the Virgin of Fátima, is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the tradition of roasting chestnuts over a fire, being able to taste more than 50 dishes prepared with them , accompanied by anise or brandy, to the rhythm of the music and dances that liven up the party.
In addition, you can always take the opportunity to visit the exhibitions of traditional equipment, clothing and utensils used for collecting chestnuts. It is generally celebrated at the beginning of November and has been considered since 2004 as a provincial festival of tourist singularity.
Mycological conferences in Navaleno (Soria)
Soria is a land of mushrooms, that’s clear, and in the small town of Navaleno, less than 50 km from the capital, the Mycological Days are an event awaited and awaited by both amateurs and experts in mushroom picking. mushrooms. Every year, in the middle of autumn, these days offer workshops, concerts, trails through the pine forests and various tastings, with tapas competitions included.
During the days, which last two weeks between the end of October and the beginning of November, visitors can learn to identify different species of mushrooms and taste dishes cooked with fresh forest products, from traditional chanterelles to the coveted porcini mushrooms.
Bean fair in Tolosa (Gipuzkoa)
In the Guipuzcoan town of Tolosa, the bean is much more than just an ingredient: it is a gastronomic jewel that has its own celebration. Every November, the Bean Fair, or Babarrun Festa, brings together producers and lovers of this legume to taste and pay homage to the famous Tolosa bean, which is distinguished by its characteristic dark color and buttery texture.
At the fair, the best quality bean grain is named in the growers’ competition, a gastronomic competition is held for the best preparation and a popular large bean is celebrated. A complete gastronomic party in which there is no shortage of folk music in the streets and regional costumes. So if you want to become an expert on Tolosa beans and discover the reason for their fame, you won’t have a better opportunity than this.
Magosto in El Bierzo (Leon)
El Magosto is a tradition deeply rooted in the northwest of Spain and in the region of León, El Bierzo, it is lived with particular intensity. It is an ancestral celebration that marks the beginning of autumn, even linked to ancient rites of gratitude to nature for the fruits of the earth, and is closely linked to the chestnut harvest.
Groups of friends and families gather around bonfires to roast chestnuts, drink young wine and sample local products such as preñao rolls, sausages and cheeses. The Magosto Berciano is one of the most emblematic of Castilla y León and is celebrated in countless villages, from Cacabelos to Carucedo, passing through Villadepalos, Ponferrada or San Esteban de Valdueza, among other municipalities.
Saffron Fair in Consuegra (Toledo)
In the lands of La Mancha, October is the harvest time for one of the most precious spices in the world: saffron. In the town of Consuegra, this harvest is celebrated on the last weekend of October with the Saffron Fair, also known as Rosa del Saffrán. An event whose main objective is to publicize and promote the cultural essence of La Mancha through gastronomy, crafts, history and popular traditions.
During this festival celebrated since 1963 and declared of regional tourist interest, visitors can participate in saffron demonstrations, thematic guided tours, attend cooking competitions and taste traditional dishes where spice is the main protagonist. The fair also includes theatrical performances and many popular activities, making Consuegra a good destination to know La Mancha in a more authentic way.
El Samaín, in Galicia
Samaín is one of the oldest festivals in Galicia, with roots dating back to the ancient Celts. The word Samaín comes from the Celtic word Samhain, which in Gaelic etymology means “end of summer”, or rather the moment which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. A pagan holiday which in other places may be understood as Halloween. It is of course celebrated on the night of October 31 to November 1.
In the municipality of Cedeira people live with a particular intensity, and it is said that this town of La Coruña has recovered Samaín to make it popular again in Galicia. Here it is celebrated with a mix of traditional and contemporary activities, with streets decorated with carved pumpkins and candles, horror houses, queimadas, face painting workshops and children’s costumes. In addition, parades and activities are organized for all audiences. The most interesting thing is that Samaín is not just a Galician version of Halloween, but a holiday with its own history, which symbolizes respect for ancestors and the transition between seasons.
Sant Ermengol Fair in La Seu d’Urgell (Lleida)
In the Pyrenees, in the beautiful town of La Seu d’Urgell, the Fira de Sant Ermengol is held, one of the oldest cheese fairs in Europe. This event, which takes place every October, is a paradise for artisanal cheese lovers. Catalan, Aragonese, Basque, Navarrese and French producers participate, as well as a guest cheese, and year after year, it establishes itself as a platform for the promotion, dissemination and external projection of cheeses made in the Pyrenees.
Here visitors can taste and buy a wide variety of cheeses, but also attend classes and workshops aimed at popularizing and consolidating knowledge of this product. The fair is not only a showcase of the gastronomic wealth of the region, but also a cultural encounter with music, exhibitions and activities that show the roots of this tradition in rural life in the Pyrenees. In fact, it also offers a section dedicated to livestock breeding, where we find a sample of the most representative cattle and horses of Alt Urgell.
Pomace Festival in Potes (Cantabria)
The Orujo Festival, celebrated since 1984, is one of the most important events of autumn in Cantabria. Celebrated in the picturesque medieval town of Potes, in the heart of the Picos de Europa, this festival pays homage to marc, this traditional distillate made from grape skins that needs no introduction. On the second weekend of November, the streets of Potes are full of stalls where you can taste this very traditional liqueur, as well as attend folkloric shows, parades and live distilling demonstrations.
Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2012, the Orujo Festival is a celebration of the cultural and gastronomic heritage of the Liébana region, which is why there is no shortage of typical products and recipes from the region such as cocido lebaniego, apple borono or Picón. cheese.
