Laughter can be heard through the streets of the town, children run along the sidewalks rushing the last houses. After ringing the bell, they eagerly await their next treat (preferably sugary). And just as the door opens they shout in unison: Los Santitos!
San Juan de la Rambla celebrates, like every November 1, the All Saints Day with a special tradition: ‘Los Santitos’ or ‘Pan por Dios’. There are no pumpkins, no scary costumes; even less, tricks or treats.
From early in the morning, the little ones go through the town with their decorated wicker baskets, knocking on each and every one of the houses waiting to receive sweets.
However, it has not always been this way. Josema Pérez is a resident of the municipality and, in his desire to remember among the elderly the traditions most deeply rooted in the northern municipality, he has told this newspaper that in the past the gifts were far from those of today. The families of that time gave children chestnuts, hard-boiled eggs or apples, among other fruits.
According to what the sanjuanero has been able to compile in recent years, there are two versions about its origin. The first defends that it was a “time of great need in which this day was used for children to ask and share it with their family.” In the second, the children begged at the houses to, later, distribute the food among the “most humble families of the town”.
Be that as it may, this unique tradition of San Juan de la Rambla will be celebrated again this festive Wednesday and the children of the municipality will return home with their baskets full of sweets, looking forward to the arrival of next November 1 to once again ask for ‘The Saints’.
