Every year at Waldorf La Font School, we celebrate La Castanyada, a traditional Catalan autumn festival that marks the changing of the seasons. It is a time to slow down, observe the transformations taking place in nature, and experience the rhythm of the seasons through simple gestures and shared experiences.
Traditional celebrations hold a special place in the life of our school. They connect us with the land we live on, its fruits, its natural cycles, and the customs passed down from one generation to the next. Celebrating these traditions helps us feel part of a community and develop deeper roots in our cultural and natural surroundings.
Throughout the week, each educational stage experiences La Castanyada in its own way.
In Early Childhood Education, we gather in the garden for the traditional Castanyera circle, sing autumn songs, and share panellets (traditional Catalan sweets) and roasted chestnuts prepared by the older students. These are simple, heartwarming moments experienced through gestures, songs, and togetherness.
In Primary Education, preparations begin several days before the celebration. Throughout the week, the children make traditional handmade panellets, which they later share with the whole school. They also explore La Castanyada through drawings and writing, and prepare autumn songs to celebrate the occasion together.
In Secondary Education, the students take an active role in the celebration. They roast chestnuts for the entire school and share a special meal featuring the favourite dishes of loved ones who are no longer with us. It is a beautiful and meaningful way to remember them, keep their memory alive, and make space for remembrance and reflection.
In this way, year after year, La Castanyada becomes much more than a celebration. It is an opportunity to experience the changing seasons, appreciate the gifts of the earth, share what we have created with our own hands, and nurture our connection with our roots.
Because traditions are not simply explained: they are lived, shared, and passed on. And it is through these shared moments that they take root within us and continue to form part of our story.