Tourism Ireland, Embassy of Ireland and Bordbia (Irish Food Office) are once again celebrating a real Samhain. From today until the 31st of October, at the Mercado de la Paz in Madrid (Calle de Ayala, 28B).
This celebration will be a journey to the authentic Emerald Isle, where you can taste the typical dishes of this Celtic festival, listen to its most terrifying legends, learn how to carve pumpkins and discover the origin of customs such as ‘Trick or treat’.
Beyond a festival of witches and ghosts, the real Halloween hides exciting ancient traditions full of dark characters and dark legends, which have been alive in Irish culture and its Celtic origin for more than 2,000 years, the same time that Samhain has been celebrated.
In this second edition, the public is invited to discover the authentic history of Samhain with an original programme of activities: a journey through the most ancestral traditions of the Emerald Isle, a journey to the true heart of Halloween, a celebration whose most popular customs have their roots in Ireland: trick-or-treating, terrifying pumpkins, costumes, bonfires… Discover the history behind them all.
Some terrifying characters from the legends of Irish folklore will wander around the market, revealing their story through theatrical micro-performances, such as Jack O’Lantern, condemned to wander eternally from heaven to hell with an ember in his ever-burning lamp. There will also be an opportunity to delve into the story of Dracula himself, a character created by the Dublin writer Bram Stoker (said to be inspired by the Celtic chieftain Abhartach), and the legends of the Banshee (Bean Sidhe), who weeps for the souls of those who are about to die. We will also meet Púca, a half-goblin, half-ghost creature from Celtic folklore who can decide our fate.
The atmosphere will be filled with fear and the delicious smell of barmbrack, the quintessential Irish Halloween dish, a delicious sultana bread whose recipe will be explained in situ by the gastronomic journalist Concha Crespo. There will also be tastings of typical Irish products such as Irish grass-fed beef, fresh and sustainable seafood, creamy Irish butter and a selection of premium whiskey and gin. Traditional Irish music and dance will also feature with Irish Treble & Collin’s Céilí Band and folk music will be provided by Over the Moon.
