31/10/2024
The eerie roots of Spanish Halloween can be traced back to Galicia, where ancient Celtic rituals still echo through the mists to this day.
Samhain, an ancient Irish festival, was brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Celts thousands of years ago.
Meaning ‘end of summer,’ Samhain marks the beginning of the Celtic New Year, plunging the world into a shadowy ‘dark period’ that only lifts with the arrival of spring.
It is a time when the veil between the living and the dead grows thin, and the spirits of the departed are said to roam freely.
One of the most ghostly Galician rituals is Santa Compaña, a nightmarish procession of the dead. Draped in white and clutching candles, these restless spirits walk solemnly through the town, led by an unfortunate living soul.
Dare to peer out of your window during the procession, and legend says you may be cursed to join them in death.
