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Spain’s October doesn’t pick a lane. One night brings witches, costumes, and playful scares; the next morning, families file into cemeteries with buckets, brushes, and armfuls of flowers. We lean into that contrast and explore why it feels so right: a season that holds both noise and hush, thunder and reflection.
We start with Halloween’s Spanish footprint—Galician echoes of pagan rites, La Noche de las Brujas, and the idea of the veil between worlds. One of us loves the eerie creativity of full-on spooky costumes; the other side-eyes the commercial frenzy. From there we step into 1 November, when All Saints Day turns the country toward remembrance. We talk about social expectations around tending graves, the rows of abuelas at flower stalls, and the flavours that mark the day: huesos de santo from Madrid’s convent lore and panellets from Catalonia and Valencia.
Curiosity pulls us across the Atlantic to Día de Muertos, recognised by UNESCO and rich with colour, marigolds, and altars set with favourite foods. We unpack the calavera story—born from satire—and the deeper message that remembering our dead can be communal, joyful, and grounding. Then we swing back to steins and brass bands as Oktoberfest takes over Spanish coastal towns. Even if you don’t drink beer, the spectacle is irresistible, and the tradition’s origin is surprising: an 1810 royal wedding that turned into a global ritual.
Between sips and stories, we share a slice of life in lederhosen, sample regaliz licorice bark, and reflect on a borrowed Thanksgiving that centres gratitude without the gift-wrapping. A Spanish saying ties it all together: no hay octubre sin trueno ni santos sin duelo. Storms will come; sorrow belongs to remembrance. If this blend of spooky, sacred, and social sounds like your kind of autumn, hit play, subscribe, and leave a review to tell us which tradition speaks to you most.