🎃 Dolcetto o Scherzetto? Halloween vs. History in Italy

Happy Halloween! If you're walking the streets of Italy tonight, you might hear a small shout of "Dolcetto o scherzetto?" (Trick or treat?) but don't be fooled. While fun, costumes, and themed parties are certainly growing in popularity, the spooky night of October 31st is still relatively new to Italia.

For Italians, the real focus has traditionally been on the two solemn and significant days that follow.

The Growing Trend: Halloween is Here (Sort Of)

Yes, the seeds of an American-style Halloween have definitely been planted in Italy, especially among the younger generations and in larger cities.

You will find:

• Organized Events: Many bars, clubs, and cultural centers now host themed parties and even "Ghost Tours" in ancient cities like Rome and Venice.

• The Struggle for Costumes: Since Italy doesn't have a giant "Spirit Halloween" on every corner, costumes are often cleverly handmade or ordered online. If you live in a larger city, that Amazon delivery can certainly save the day!

• A Gentle Trick-or-Treat: While growing, trick-or-treating is generally a much softer event, often contained within a few blocks or done in partnership with local shopkeepers.

• Themed Baked Goods: Seasonal pastries and sweets are common across Italy and Halloween is no exception.

However, Halloween remains a fun prelude to the true, deep-seated Italian holidays: the days of remembrance.

The Traditional Heart of the Season:

November 1st & 2nd

For centuries, the Italian autumn has been marked by spiritual reflection and family memory, not costumes.

⛪️ November 1st: Ognissanti (All Saints' Day)

This is a national public holiday in Italy. It's a celebratory day dedicated to honoring all Christian saints. Families often attend Mass, but it’s largely a festive occasion that is used for a short holiday trip (un ponte) or a big family meal.

🎂 The Hidden Birthday: Ognissanti and Your Name Day!

November 1st also holds a deeply personal meaning for many Italians: it functions as a universal Name Day (Onomastico)!

In Italy, every day of the year traditionally honors a specific saint. If you are named after that saint (e.g., Francesco on October 4th or Anna on July 26th), that day is your Name Day, celebrated almost like a second, mini-birthday.

But what if your name isn't directly on the calendar?

• Universal Celebration: If your name doesn't correspond to a dedicated saint day, November 1st becomes your day to celebrate! Since Ognissanti honors all saints, known and unknown, it serves as a day to celebrate every name under the sun.

• The Greeting: This is why it is common to hear people exchange the greeting "Buon Onomastico!" (Happy Name Day!) on November 1st, a greeting that would be inappropriate on the solemn Giorno dei Morti (November 2nd).

This dual function transforms a religious holy day into a warm, inclusive celebration of family and identity across all of Italy.

🕯️ November 2nd: Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls' Day)

This is the day of true remembrance. While not a public holiday, it is deeply significant. The main tradition is visiting the cemetery to clean the family graves, pray, and lay down fresh flowers (the traditional Italian flower of mourning is the chrysanthemum). In many regions, people also light candles at the graveside and leave out special sweets (dolci dei morti) in memory of the departed.

🇺🇸 A Global Connection to Remembrance

It's interesting to note that these November days serve a similar function to other national holidays dedicated to memory. In the United States, the solemn mood and tradition of tending to graves in memory of the lost is most similar to Memorial Day.

Similarly, across the Commonwealth nations like the UK, Canada, and Australia, a day of profound, collective remembrance is observed on November 11th (Remembrance Day/Remembrance Sunday), where people honor military sacrifices with poppies and moments of silence.

Ultimately, whether we light a candle on Giorno dei Morti or dress up for a party, this time of year connects us to the past, reminding us of those who came before.

Do you have an Italian loved one that you are remembering today?