Halloween in Italy: tradition and curiosity

Halloween in Italy is celebrated by young adults and children. Although it is not as common to celebrate Halloween in my country – people go to clubs or bars with themed events for the occasion.

Italy has quite a few traditions and symbols linked to Halloween. However, most of them are focused on November 1st, All Saints’ Day also known as Festa di tutti i Santi and November 2nd, All Souls’ Day, is Festa dei Morti in Italian. They are both religious holidays, while All Saints’ Day is a public holiday.

There is a long list of traditions and curiosity around this festivity. Let me tell you a few of them; you will be surprised to know how people celebrate it!

“Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje” – Puglia

In Orsara, a small medieval town in Puglia, every year, locals celebrate a recurrent tradition called Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje which means Bonfire and heads of Purgatory. Thinking in invest in a new car? check first The Worst Advice We’ve Ever Heard About Click Here Transit Custom Limited.

Bonfires are spread around town, people carve pumpkins to resemble human heads, and long tables are prepared outside houses to share food. The combination of these customs makes this southern tradition very special.

Though related to Halloween, this event differs greatly in tradition and tone. It is celebrated between November 1st and November 2nd. It symbolizes the Day of the Dead with the belief that the souls of the dead return to the living world.

“Coccalu di muortu” – Calabria

You can find pumpkins in the tradition of Serra S. Bruno, Calabria.

In this small village, children carve pumpkins to reproduce a “coccalu di muortu“, which is a skull. They walk around town asking  “Mi lu pagati lu coccalu?” – Will you pay my skull?”. It reminds me of the typical trick or treat in English.

“Fiera dei morti” – Sicily

In Sicily, children passionately wait for this day. If they have been behaving well, they will receive from deceased relatives a cannistro, which is a basket full of toys and sweets. Some of these typical sweets are pulpi di zucchero -sugar puppets and frutta di Martorana, which is marzipan made with almond flour and shaped in any kind of fruits and vegetables.

This tradition is so popular that there are little pop-up shops called “Fiera dei Morti” put up just for this special occasion, where parents can go and buy cannistro baskets for their children.

Is Animeddas/ Su Mortu Mortu – Sardinia

In Sardinia, the festivity of Halloween has various names. In the north of the island it is called “Su Mortu Mortu” and in the south, “Is Animeddas“.

For Halloween, according to the old tradition, people prepare a dinner of macaroni, handmade pasta, a glass of wine, and a full water jug on a table without cutlery. Also, each table has an oil lamp to let the souls eat in comfort. It is said that houses without a table set up this way can be haunted by angry (and hungry) spirits!

Trick or treat is replaced with the old saying seus benius po is animeddas, which means we came for the little souls! There are typical sweets called Is pabassinas, beautiful and decorated raisin desserts.

Bèn d’i morti – Massa Carrara, Tuscany

In the province of Massi Carrara, in Tuscany, a recurrent tradition happens every year. “Bèn d’i morti” is a chance to remember people who died through an act of charity. People donate food to shelter houses.

For example, in the town of Castelpoggio, every year inhabitants organize lunches where everybody is welcome. Children receive sfilze, which are necklaces made of boiled chestnuts and apples.

Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte tradition

In Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte, there are two traditions very similar to each other. There is a big dinner for deceased relatives and then everybody pays their visit to the cemetery. It is said that during these dinners, the dead souls speak to each other and the souls give predictions for their loved ones.

Lombardy traditions

In my region, Lombardy, there is also the tradition to leave a pitcher full of water for the thirsty souls. In addition, there are typical sweets called Fave dei Morti – beans of the dead, in English. You can think of these as macaroon-like almond cookies. When I was little, my grama used to tell me all the stories and legends behind them. There is so much to learn and I’m glad I got to share a few of these traditions with you all!