Castañada
Traditional Iberian Peninsula festival / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Castañada, Magosta, Magosto or Magusto, is a traditional festival on the Iberian Peninsula. It is popular in Portugal,[1] Galicia and some areas of northern Spain, such as Cantabria, Asturias, Catalonia, and the provinces of León, Zamora[2] and Salamanca and Cáceres,[3] but also in some parts of the Canary Islands.[4] The festival is also celebrated in both sides of the French-Spanish border.[5] It has also spread internationally as a 'chestnut party'.[6] Etymological origins are unknown, but there are several theories for the Magosto name: Magnus Ustus (great fire) or Magum Ustum (highlighting the magical character of fire).[7][8]
You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish. (March 2023) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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It is a festival with Celtic roots[citation needed] that celebrates the end of summer and the beginning of winter. In all the regions where it is celebrated, and especially in Galicia, it is deeply related to the cult of the dead. It is customary to leave the fire of the house lit and place food around the fireplace to welcome back the spirits of deceased members of the family. Numerous traditional rituals are celebrated throughout this feast related to purification, healing, remembering ancestors, attending mass or visiting the local healer.