HALLOWEEN in Italy - Where it gets really spooky...

In the picture/montage: Corinaldo in the Marches

The spookiest night of the year. No surprise that Italy also celebrates Halloween in all its opulence. Two cities are competing for the title of "scary capital". Every region in Italy has its own traditions and customs around Halloween.

It is not only the night of 31 October that is important in Italy. For centuries, the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, 1 and 2 November, have commemorated the deceased and remembered the dead.

• Borga a Mozzano in Tuscany, self-proclaimed capital of Halloween, part 1
• Corinaldo in the Marche, self-proclaimed capital of Halloween, part 2
• Customs and traditions in other regions

Borgo a Mozzano: Celebrating with the devil on the bridge

The medieval village of Borgo a Mozzano in Tuscany is one of the most popular destinations for Halloween in Italy - by its own account the largest Halloween celebration in the country.

From 28 October to 31 October, thousands of people parade through the old town as zombies, witches and vampires for the 28th time. For four days everything revolves around ghosts, vampires, ghouls.

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More than 80 families from the 7,000-strong town are taking part in the Halloween preparations. A selection from the programme: more than 30 event spaces, plus dozens of open-air events, from live music to drama performances, magician shows, plus of course street food stalls, live music and DJs. The highlight is the fireworks display at the Devil's Bridge, themed "The Wrath of Lucifer". Afterwards there will be dancing all night.

• More information is available here (external page)
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• Stay overnight in Borgo ^_Ad

From 2023: Ticket for Venice

Corinaldo: Here the witches dance

Casserole of witches and magicians. Corinaldo in the Marche was chosen as one of the most beautiful villages - and is also the capital of Halloween in Italy, according to its own information.. The spooky night is almost an autumn carnival here, too, and the celebration lasts three days. The premiere took place in 1997. The "Witches' Festival", "La Festa delle Streghe", starts on 31 October at 5.17 pm.

Besides sensationally decorated houses and streets, there are dozens of events. Cabaret, street theatre music, educational workshops for children, the election of "Miss Witch" and more. 600 women and men in the village are involved in the preparation of the witch's celebration.

• More information is available here (external page)
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• Stay overnight in Borgo a Mozzano ^_Ad

Skulls and other Halloween traditions in Italy

An old woman with a hook in Sardinia

The haunted night is all about noodles. In Sardinia, Halloween has many names, in the south the day is called "Is Animeddas" in the south and "Su Mortu Mortu" in the north.

On the evening of 1 November, according to popular belief, you must leave a portion on your pasta plate - for "Maria Punta'a Oru". Maria is an old woman who, if she doesn't get full, sticks her hook ("Punta'a Oru") in your stomach to eat your pasta.

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Gifts from the dead in Sicily

"Festa dei Morti"In Sicily, children receive gifts from deceased relatives on All Souls' Day if they have been good. In the "cannistro" for the children are mainly sweets, especially popular are biscuits in the shape of bones ("ossa ri morti").

The gift-giving custom is so widespread that there are last-minute Halloween candy markets on the island, the so-called" dead markets". A sweet custom around Halloween in Italy.

Purgatory Night in Apulia

"The Night of Bonfires and Purgatory Heads". The Apulian village of Orsara celebrates the night of the "falò e teste del Purgatorio". This tradition is more than 1000 years old. From 1 November to 2 November, pumpkins with a cross cut out and a lit candle were placed in front of houses to keep the souls of the damned away from the meal for the deceased.

At midnight, men dressed in black and hooded capes used to go around knocking on doors and asking for "l'aneme di murt", the "souls of the dead". By this they meant the leftovers of the feast, which they distributed to the poor. As they had a lantern in their hand, the procession was called "Fucacoste", with fire.

This is how Purgatory Night is celebrated today

Skulls in Calabria

Donations for skulls. Around Halloween, pumpkins are also part of Calabria's tradition, especially in Serra San Bruno, Provincia di Vibo Valentia. Here pumpkins are carved as skulls, as "coccalu di muortu". With these, the children parade through the streets asking "Mi lu pagati lu coccalu?" ("will you pay for my skull?").

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The spirits of the dead in Abbruzzo

Tours with skull. In Abruzzo, pumpkins are called "cocce de morte", skulls. Holding them in their arms, the children go from door to door and introduce the spirits of the dead, "l'aneme de le morte!". In return, they receive sweets, dried fruit or small change.

The Festival of the Pumpkin in Friuli

The festival of the pumpkin. In Friuli, the ancient Celtic New Year is celebrated with the "Fiesta dalis Muars", the pumpkin festival. The focus is on the pumpkin, which is hollowed out and illuminated and placed in front of the house doors to ingratiate oneself with the spirits. According to popular belief, the dead rise from their graves on this night and make pilgrimages to places of worship. Whoever enters a church during one of these visits dies the next morning, according to the belief.

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Food for the poor

A celebration of charity. In the province of Massa Carrara in Tuscany, the "Bèn d'i Morti" is celebrated. On this day, people commemorate their deceased relatives by giving food (and drink) to the poor. In Castelpoggio di Carrara, open lunches are still organised for everyone.

Meals for the deceased

All at the table. In Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont there are two similar traditions: A generous table is laid for the deceased, then people go to the cemetery so that the deceased can dine in peace. It is said that the spirits make predictions during these meals.

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written by Pietro Perroni, first published on 27 September 2022

Sources: own research and experience

Cover photo - montage: Photo/Montage: Rimbalzino/Getty Images, 19141918/pixabay via canva.com