A British Halloween at Home in Spain: Sweets, Spooky Drinks and Bonfire Night
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, and Bonfire Night follows on 5 November, so there is a whole week of excuses for a proper British autumn night in. All you need is a bowl of mini chocolate bars, a couple of red and orange drinks, a simple supper and a pot of tea. Here is how to put it together at home in Spain.
The treat bowl: mini bars beat loose sweets
In the UK, the Halloween treat bowl by the front door is almost always full of individually wrapped mini chocolate bars, and there is a good reason for it. Wrapped minis are easy to share, and parents prefer treats that arrive sealed.
The easiest starting point is Mars Mixed Minis, a 400 g bag that mixes Milky Way, Mars, Twix, Bounty and Snickers, so everyone finds a favourite. If you already know what your household fights over, single-flavour bags of Mars, Twix, Milky Way, KitKat and Lion minis let you build your own mix. For younger trick-or-treaters, Mini Smarties are a colourful option, but check the label: the bag carries a warning about small children under four.
Spooky drinks in red and orange
Colour does most of the work on a Halloween table: something deep red and something bright orange.
- Blood red: Barr Cherryade is a classic fizzy cherry drink, and Rubicon Spring Black Cherry & Raspberry is a lighter sparkling option.
- Make your own potion: a splash of Teisseire Grenadine Syrup in sparkling water turns it a deep red. Pour the syrup in last, slowly, and it sinks to the bottom for a layered look.
- Pumpkin orange: IRN-BRU, the famous Scottish soft drink, is already the right colour for the night.
- For the grown-ups: Old Jamaica Ginger Beer has a warming ginger kick that suits a cold evening.
Bonfire Night: a cosy supper and something hot
Guy Fawkes Night on 5 November is about standing outside in the cold, watching fireworks, and then coming back in for something warm.
The classic supper is a jacket potato loaded with Branston Baked Beans and grated cheese, or sausages with a dab of Colman's English Mustard. Go easy on the mustard: it is properly hot. A mug of Batchelors Cream of Tomato Soup is ready in minutes and is the easiest thing to hand round on a chilly night. And if you grew up with it, a spoonful of Bovril stirred into hot water is the old-school warm drink for a cold evening outdoors.
Something sweet with the tea
After the fireworks, a pot of Tetley Original and a plate of biscuits is the right way to end the night.
Traditional Bonfire Night parkin is all about ginger, so Bolands Ginger Nut Biscuits bring that same warmth to the plate without any baking. For something softer, Tunnock's Tea Cakes and Bolands Mallow Tea Cakes are chocolate-covered marshmallow on a biscuit base. Tunnock's Caramel Wafers round off the plate.
How to set up a Halloween sweet table
- Pick two colours and stick to them. Orange and black, or red and black, looks far better than a bit of everything.
- Put the wrapped minis in one big bowl by the door, and keep a separate, smaller bowl inside for the house.
- Serve drinks in a jug or a large bowl with a ladle.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring allergies. Mixed bags like Mars Mixed Minis include bars with peanuts and other allergens. Check each product page and, if you are hosting children, keep a nut-free option separate.
- Leaving chocolate in the sun. Late October in Spain can still be warm. Keep the treat bowl out of direct sun, or bring it out just before the doorbell starts ringing.
- Ordering at the last minute. Plan ahead so everything arrives before the 31st.
Frequently asked questions
How much chocolate do I need for trick-or-treaters?
It depends on your street, but two or three wrapped minis per child is a common rule. A 400 g bag of Mars Mixed Minis is a good base, with a single-flavour bag as back-up.
Is Halloween celebrated in Spain?
More and more, especially with children, and 1 November (All Saints' Day) is a public holiday in Spain, so the night of the 31st is a natural time for a get-together.
Everything above is delivered across Spain in 3–5 working days.