Halloween in Tuscany...

October 28, 8:41 PMItalian Living ExaminerSerenella Leoni

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Last year we reported on Halloween in Italy and how this formerly “All American” tradition is really catching on in Italy.

The following report comes from our correspondent in Tuscany Marlene Wallace on the latest developments on Halloween in Tuscany:

Until very recently, Halloween wasn’t even really a word that was in the Italian’s vocabulary. As more Americans and other foreigners who celebrate Halloween come into the country, more Italians are finding out about it and having their own form of celebration.

In Italy, as in many other Latin countries, people celebrate Day of the Dead on November 1. The beginning of November is already a long public holiday week-end in Italy: November 1 is “All Saints Day,” November 2 is the “Day of the Dead” and November 4 is the “National Unity and Armed Forces Day”.  People have a very long week-end off work.

On Hallow’s Eve (October 31), people celebrate Halloween. On “All Saints Day,” (November 1) practicing Catholics attend church mass to celebrate all the saints. On the “Day of the Dead,”  (November 2) families and friends head for the cemetery where most graves have been cleaned and decorated with flowers to honor loved ones who have passed away.  This is also a time for people to gather with family.

In ancient times, people believed Halloween was the night when ghosts of the dead roamed the land of the living. In Italy people left bread and water for the ghosts and lit lamps so they could find their way. In America, jack-o-lanterns were invented and originally placed in people’s windows to scare the neighbors and the ghosts.

In the nineteenth century, immigrants took these traditions to America and over time, the holiday transformed into what is now celebrated as Halloween as you know it. Children dress in costume and go to people’s houses to get candy and trick or treat.

In Italy, the children are beginning to dress in costume for school, but they have not yet begun the tradition of going to people’s houses to trick or treat. They do get candy from some of the stores in town and say, “dolcetto o scherzetto” (something sweet or a trick on you).

Have fun viewing the slide show of some Halloween decorations in Lucca, Tuscany. 

Happy Halloween!

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