Dia del Toston

by Monica
(Estepona)

Our neighbors tell us they are going out to celebrate the Dia del Toston on November 1st and want us to join them. What exactly are they going to do? What kind of holiday is this?




Comments for
Dia del Toston

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Oct 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Available campsites
by: Marbella Family

Many locals visit parks during Dia del Toston to hold barbeques and roast chestnuts. Marbella town hall regulates the use of the barbeque areas and only permit specific parks to allow barbequing for this holiday as they are normally prohibited off-season.

If you plan to barbeque then you are permitted to use the barbeques in the following parks starting on Friday October 29 at 3:30pm until 6:30pm on Monday November 1.

1. Parque de Nagüeles.
2. Parque Vigil de Quiñones.
3. Lago de las Tortugas.
4. Parque de las Medranas.

It is prohibited to use any other barbeque in any other park in Marbella.
Oct 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Special cemetery opening hours
by: Marbella Family

The cemeteries Virgen del Carmen and San Bernabé in Marbella will have special public opening hours for Dia del Toston (also known as Santos Difuntos or All Saint´s Day) until November 2nd. Opening at 9:30am and closing at 7:00pm. Both cemeteries will be celebrating with a mass on Monday November 1st at 5:00pm

The San Pedro Alcántara cemetery will be open on November first until 1:30pm and will hold a Santos Difuntos mass on Tuesday November 2nd at 4:30pm.

For more information call 010 or 952 86 17 39.

There will also be special bus services offered on this day to take visitors to the cemeteries. The buses will be differentiated from the regular buses, so be on the look out and hop on. It´s free!
Oct 18, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Dia del Toston - All Saint´s Day
by: Marbella Family

Dia del Toston falls on November 1st - on the same day as All Saint´s Day - honoring the dead (sometimes called Day of the Dead). This is a national holiday and thus many businesses and schools will be closed on this day. Día del Toston is also called Fiesta de Todos los Santos or Tosantos.

Traditions on this holiday vary throughout the world, however in Spain families typically gather at local cemeteries to pay their respects to the departed decorating family tombstones with plenty of flowers. Mass is even performed in the cemetery several times throughout the day. They may also organize parades and fireworks, and what many people do, particularly on the Costa del Sol, is get together to roast and eat chestnuts (castañas) in the forest and drink raisin brandy. The atmosphere is very much like camping with lots of families hanging around having a good time. So, don´t worry, you are sure to have fun. Some people even head out the night before to start the celebrations. If you do this, don´t think of coming in your Halloween costume. This holiday should not be confused with the American one even though there are instances of spirits, family gatherings and cemeteries.

You may also get an opportunity to try Huesos de Santo (Saint´s Bones), which is a traditional sweet eaten during this holiday that is made out of marzipan and "dulce de yema" (sweet egg yolks). Or you may find buñuelos de viento (literally, puffs of wind), which are like little doughnuts sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon.

If you will be traveling to Marbella by car during this time, avoid driving on October 31st if it falls on a weekday, because the roads will be packed as people take off of work early and leave the big cities to head to their birthplaces.

If you live in Spain or have a few extra days, you may want to head out to Cádiz (about 2.5 hour drive from Marbella) for the Fiesta de Todos los Santos. Evidently, the locals really "paint the town red" and go all out with parades, fireworks, markets selling all types of local products, children´s activities and magic shows. The city celebrates this holiday for a whole week (starting even before November 1st!), so festivities will be abundant.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Marbella questions



Back to Home Page