Spain Things to Do

If all the shops are closed and the graveyards are filled with flowers you know that it’s All Saints’ Day, a public holiday celebrated in Spain on the 1st November. The festival to honour all Saints, both known and unknown was moved from it’s original date in May back in the 10th Century, as the Popes wanted to neutralize the Pagan autumn festivals which turned into Halloween. This was believed to be the time when boundaries between living and dead disappeared, and people visit the graves of relatives to decorate them elaborately with offerings of flowers. You can attend services of the Eucharist Catholic Mass and join a procession to the graves without having relatives there.