In October, the heart of autumn, the ploughed belly of the earth prepares to receive the seed. The ageing sun trembles beneath the cold night, while the Moon reigns over ancient beliefs, receiving greetings and prayers. The month ends with the Castanyada, the Catalan feast of chestnuts and the dead, with ritual collections, raffles and communal celebrations. Gatherings now take place mainly around the domestic hearth as the season of the dead draws near.