The Samhain Festival in Galicia
The Samhain Festival in Galicia has become a very appealing tradition for travellers from around the world who come to Galician lands to celebrate the "noite meiga". Although the American version of this pagan festivity may be more popular, in many Galician villages people experience unforgettable and very fun moments on the night of 31 October.
Samhain has a Celtic origin and was celebrated across much of Europe for many years until the arrival of Christianity. This festival represented two great purposes: the start of the harvest season and the new Celtic year. To this day it is celebrated in Galicia with great emotion, and a great many people take to the streets to celebrate in style.
If you are planning your trip in October, living the experience of the Samhain Festival in Galicia is unmatched. Of the many attractions this region holds, we can assure you that what is experienced on this night is very special and also a bit eerie.
What does Samhain mean?
As we mentioned, this celebration has a Celtic origin, and in the past it was said that Samhain was a day when the living and the dead coexisted. According to this legend, on the eve of 1 November people could reunite with the spirits of their friends or relatives and share once again on earth.
It was also said that there were both good and bad spirits, and so that the bad ones would not get upset with the Celts, they left food out so that the world of the living and that of the dead would be at peace.
The tradition of leaving food out evolved, and that is why today during this celebration we see children asking for sweets on the night of 31 October, on what is known as "Halloween".
Best Galician villages to enjoy Samhain
This tradition is celebrated with great emotion across much of Galicia, but there are villages that have taken this festivity to another level and stand out for their decorations and street entertainment activities. If you are thinking of travelling to Galician lands during this time of year, there are different villages where you can experience this tradition — magical villages worth getting to know.
Cedeira
The Samhain Festival in Galicia is a celebration for the whole family, and one of the best places to celebrate with the youngest is in Cedeira, A Coruña. On the night of 31 October, various recreational activities related to Halloween are held.
One of the best known is the "Queimada", as well as workshops for children that are also educational about the Celtic and Galician tradition and culture. Today, Samhain is a traditional Galician celebration recognised throughout much of the country and it is worth enjoying in Cedeira.
Quiroga
The town of Quiroga, in Lugo, is another of the Galician spots where the Samhain Festival in Galicia is celebrated in style. Here you will see the town packed with carved pumpkins in the best Halloween style — although they are actually a typical element of Samhain.
Ribadavia
Of all the Galician villages that joyfully celebrate the arrival of the "noite meiga", Ribadavia stands out from the rest. Hundreds of residents and visitors from other cities take to the streets at night and experience the best Samhain you can imagine.
Beyond the traditional activities of this thousand-year-old festival, like the akelarre or visiting the terror passage at Ribadavia Castle, the town hosts fireworks displays, cultural performances and concerts all day long.
If you go out on Halloween night in Ribadavia, you will find hundreds of people in outlandish outfits with torches, wandering through the old quarter of the town while scaring visitors. In the early hours there is a parade emulating the Santa Compaña, and a little earlier the traditional Samhain dances take place. The whole Samhain Festival in Galicia is an experience you will not find anywhere else and one you cannot miss the chance to enjoy at least once.
