Galetes de Rams (Palm Sunday Cookies). Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, where people acclaimed him with olive and laurel branches. It’s the day of the blessing of the palms, and it’s customary to hang some hard cookies on them to be sprinkled with holy water. In Barcelona, Gelida and Vilanova i la Geltrú they call them currutacos, in Prats de Lluçanès papus, in Manresa garlandes, and in Caldes de Montbui ninots. In the towns of the Vallès region, these traditional Palm Sunday pastries are called figuretes, and in Mataró they’re known as senyores i senyors. But wherever you go, there’s no better afternoon snack!

Tortell de Rams (Palm Sunday Ring Cake). Another Palm Sunday culinary tradition is the gift of a tortell (ring cake) to godchildren. The godfather presents it after the blessing of the palms, and it’s eaten after lunch with the hope that it’ll keep illnesses at bay and bring good luck.

Bunyols (Mini Doughnuts). While few people continue to commemorate the Last Supper of Jesus with abstinence and reflection, in the regions of Barcelona, the tradition of celebrating Maundy Thursday with bunyols (mini doughnuts) remains very much alive. Made with milk, butter, flour and eggs, the basic recipe allows for many variations. If you fill them with cream, custard or truffle, you’re in for a real treat!

Torradetes de Santa Teresa (St. Teresa’s Fried Bread). On the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, those who don’t fast make the most of leftovers and prepare simple meals. This religious custom is the origin of a very popular sweet in Catalonia, mainly eaten for breakfast on Good Friday. Torradetes de Santa Teresa (St. Teresa’s fried bread), also known as llesquetes en ou, gresoletes dolces, rostes or coquetes de Santa Teresa, are thin slices of stale bread soaked in milk and dipped in beaten egg, fried in a pan, and covered with sugar and powdered cinnamon. They’re delicious accompanied by melted chocolate or a drop of dessert wine.

Mona de Pasqua (Easter Sunday Cake). According to tradition, while the godfather gives the Tortell de Rams (Palm Sunday ring cake), the godmother gives the Mona de Pasqua (Easter Sunday Cake) to her godchildren on Easter Sunday. It’s a sponge cake in the shape of a crown with a chocolate egg in the middle as a symbol of fertility and love. In the Penedès region, they celebrate the day with a coca garlanda, a sugar-coated ring cake flavoured with anise liqueur.

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