Panellets originated in northern Europe in the 18th century as a calorie-rich food for winter celebrations. They later became associated with religious festivals in Catalonia such as San Marcos and Santa Cruz, where they would be shared after services. While their origins may be northern European, panellets are also connected to Arabic culture due to their primary ingredient of almonds. Traditionally, panellets were eaten on All Saints Day and families would meet at church to eat them together with other autumn foods. Today in Catalonia, panellets remain a typical sweet most commonly enjoyed on Halloween alongside chestnuts, chocolate, sweet potatoes, and wine.

1. THE ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF PANELLETS

2. ORIGIN The panellets recipe was created in the 18th century. They used to be a blessed food to share after a religious celebration (for example: San Marcos’ panellets and Santa Cruz’ panellets ). People believe that the panellets origins were in North Europe where, as a result of intensive cold, people needed caloric meals to go through All Saints’ Eve. But surely the panellets are also related to Arabic people because they are made of almonds which is a basic cooking product in this culture.

3. HISTORY In the past Panellets were eaten on All Saints Day (November 1 st ). During this religious festivity the bells of the church tolled all through the night and people didn’t sleep, they met at church and they ate panellets and other autumn products together. The panellets are a typical Catalan sweet. They are very energetic and now we eat them on the day of la castanyada, on October 31 st . This Catalan celebration is also called All Saints Eve or Halloween (in English speaking countries) . On this date we also eat chestnuts, chocolate, sweet potatoes and we drink sweet wine.

4. If you want to eat a classic panellet , the best is get ting a C atalan house made recipe, because people probably passed the recipe from a generation to the following ones. TRADITIONAL RECIPE