These are days of gathering around a table sharing a tray of ‘buñuelos de viento’ or ‘huesos de santo’, of ordering bouquets and arrangements of carnations or chrysanthemums to visit those who are no longer with us and leave them a memento in the form of a floral arrangement. Traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation and although nowadays they coexist with others from other countries, they continue to maintain their raison d’être in Mijas. “We live in a municipality with more than 150 nationalities but I believe that we must always support what is ours, our traditions; we cannot lose sight of where we come from and the important days we have in the calendar that represent our culture”, said the mayoress of Mijas, Ana Mata (PP), who visited the bakery Las Torres, in Las Lagunas, and encouraged neighbours to “appreciate local commerce, that commerce that is committed to quality products”.

For the mayoress, “‘Mijas with soul’ aims precisely to support Mijas and its content and that the 1st of November is the day that all families have always spent together remembering our deceased, gathering around a table with  ‘huesos de santo’, ‘rosquillas’ and ‘buñuelos’”. Ana Mata also stressed the importance of spreading this tradition among those who come from abroad, “just as they encourage us to celebrate Halloween”.

Bakeries in the municipality take advantage of these days to fill their display cases with typical sweets of this festivity, also opting for more innovative formulas that come from the Anglo-Saxon tradition. The activity has also been frenetic for some weeks now in the florists’s of the area, where the orders for floral arrangements to pay tribute to the deceased on their day have been pouring in. We went to Floristería Iris to get a closer look at the preparations for All Saints’ Day.

Sweets for all tastes

As All Saints’ Eve approaches, Las Torres bakery gives its display cases a very autumnal look. In Las Lagunas, there is no excuse for not buying a good assortment of traditional products and enjoy the evenings at the end of October with one of its exquisite snacks.

In the heart of sector 31, specifically in Calle Velázquez, Las Torres bakery has the perfect variety of sweets to commemorate All Saints’ Day as in the olden days. “The All Saint’s long weekend is a very important date and the truth is that people are looking for traditional things like ‘roscos de huevo’, ‘pestiños’, ‘borrachuelos’, ‘huesos de santo’...” explained the owner of this establishment, Leticia de Vaca who, as well as offering these traditional recipes, with pastry cream or toasted yolk, also offers more innovative fillings such as ‘kinder bueno’ and chocolate. “I have taken an assortment with a little bit of everything, ‘borrachuelos’ with sugar and honey, ‘huesos de santo’ and ‘empanadas de cabello de ángel’”, confessed the mayoress, who visited the bakery on Monday 28th.

 

Tradition becomes international in La Cala

The tradition of sweetening the first of November also arrives to La Cala. Specifically to La Canasta, on Butibamba Street, where, as well as the locals, English and Dutch people also have these days for breakfast and for the afternoon snack: ‘pestiños’, pasties and ‘huesos de santo’. “The ‘buñuelo’ (sweet fritter) is the star product at this time of year, you give it to the tourists to try and they like it; the ‘huesos de santo’ is more Spanish, while the children prefer Halloween chocolates”, explained the co-owner of La Canasa, Concha Blanco. True to its philosophy of supporting seasonal products, La Canasta fills its display cases with fritters of all flavors, kinder, vanilla, cream and nougat; ‘huesos de santo’ made of egg yolk or sweet potato; chocolates in the shape of vampires or pumpkins; butter cookies and filled cupcakes. All this, Concha assures, is offered to foreigners so that they can try it. “They take these to their countries because they find the filling very tasty and they like it”, said Concha.

 

Taste of autumn in the heart of calle Málaga

In Mijas Pueblo, specifically in the bakery of Maria Quero, in Calle Malaga, you can also enjoy your coffee or chocolate with a cake typical at this time of the year. “When the cold weather and rainy days start, people feel like staying at home or going out for a snack, so many traditional sweets that are not usually made during the rest of the year are made, such as ‘buñuelos’, ‘huesos de santo’ and ‘empanadillas’”, explained the co-owner of this business, Francisco González. Sweet potato and egg yolk, he said, continue to be the flavours par excellence of these sweets, although new tastes are opening up, “such as kinder, lotus and lemon”. They are not only being adapted to the new times, but also to all ages. That is why, as well as traditional cakes, you can also find butter and fondant biscuits in María Quero’s bakery, much in demand by children for Halloween, and which, said Francisco, “are also very popular at this time of year”.

 

Flowers to honour the deceased

Another sector that does not stop these days is the flower sector. The tradition of visiting our deceased in the cemetery on the 1st and 2nd of November is still deeply rooted, so many people start to order their floral arrangements from mid-September onwards.

The owner of Floristería Iris, Inmaculada Pérez, said that “here in Mijas this tradition is still going on, because I even have clients whose relatives have been cremated and on All Saints’ Day they buy flowers”. She also pointed out that less and less flowers are being purchased on the spot and more and more orders are being placed. Since mid-September, her stall at the municipal market in Mijas Pueblo has been bustling with activity. Most of the flowers come from Colombia, Ecuador and Holland and, for this reason, orders must be placed at least ten days in advance. “By far the best sellers are carnations, paniculata, roses and chrysanthemums, which was almost forgotten and is now very fashionable”, she pointed out and assured that, as for the orders, “the most popular orders are arrangements for pots, which are more attractive than bouquets”. These days, a large part of the family is involved in the family business. Last year, in just three days, some 400 orders were completed, so all help is welcome.

 

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