Sugar Rosaries, the Mallorcan Tradition of November 1st
The evening before November 1st, All Saints' Day, is celebrated in various ways depending on culture and location. In Mallorca, the tradition is marked by "rosaris ensucrats," or sugar rosaries, which godparents give to their godchildren on the last day of October.
Nearly all cultures have celebrated, once a year, the transition of souls of the deceased and their journey on Earth. These were nights to stay at home, with doors and windows closed, where legends of apparitions and restless souls were told in every town.
Traditions have evolved and turned this date into a festive occasion, and in Mallorca, although increasingly invaded by zombies, witches, and vampires roaming the streets shouting: "trick or treat," ancient traditions still endure, like that of the sweet rosaries.
Sugar rosaries are a sweet Mallorcan tradition for All Saints' Day.
In the past, food that the deceased would need for their journey to the afterlife was placed on their graves. Rosaris ensucrats evolved from this custom.
The first rosaries were made up of pieces of what were called "panecillos de muerto," or bread of the dead, a mixture of flour cooked with typical autumn fruits: pumpkin, pine nuts, chestnuts, or almonds. These small sweets were threaded on a string and given to children.
Over time, the small buns were replaced with candied fruits, chocolates, and other sweets, resembling a rosary, with a paten as the centerpiece, which usually consisted of a piece of sweet pumpkin adorned with sugar drawings and a holy card, previously featuring a saint, an angel, or some sacred figure.
Children from earlier times proudly wore their "rosari ensucrat" around their necks on All Saints' Day, eagerly awaiting the moment to sink their teeth into the sweets that made it up.
The Evolution of the Sugar Rosary Tradition
While traditional sugar rosaries can still be found in bakeries and pastry shops throughout the island, modernity has taken over, and the rosaries have evolved.
In the early 20th century, they were still made with panecillos de muertos, but they soon began to be made with the "panellets" typical of these dates. These are sweets made with egg yolk and sugar or almond paste, also very typical of Catalan cuisine.
Today, and many grandparents from that era might be horrified by the modern twist, panellets and candied fruits have been replaced by chocolates, gummy candies, marshmallows, and licorice. The pumpkin base is now a huge chocolate bar, sometimes adorned with stickers of cartoon characters or TV personalities.
In schools, the youngest children emulate the original tradition by creating their own rosaries. They do this by wrapping all sorts of sweets in colorful paper and carefully stringing them on a cord to wear around their necks.
Centuries-old traditions coexist with others from different places and cultures, but the rosaris ensucrats displayed in pastry shop counters at this time of year are a reminder that Mallorca has its own history and culture for All Saints' Day.
If you'd like to learn about other Mallorcan traditions, we invite you to read this entry.
