All you need to know about Halloween in Italy and what to expect on this day: real Italian traditions, new and fun Halloween traditions in Italy, what to expect, what you will not find and more.
Halloween is not an Italian tradition. It is not a celebration rooted into to our past and not a day marked as such. However, this doesn’t mean that you cannot have Halloween fun in Italy or you don’t see signs of it or come across special events!
Halloween has been creeping into Italian life for a few decades now. American films, TV shows, The Peanuts and their ‘Great Pumpkin’ storyline all contributed to the American version of Halloween landing here and commercial interests and kids’ enthusiasm made it grow.
Traditionally, kids in Italy dress up for Carnevale (usually in February, before Lent) but understandably jumped at the opportunity of an extra day dressing up, especially with candy on top!
At the same time, Italy has its own traditions around the 1 and 2 November and they are well worth knowing about, if you are in Italy at this time.
In this post, I talk about what Halloween looks like in Italy today, what we actually celebrate, and what to be aware of if traveling on these days. I hope it is helpful!
Fun fact: the very he very first time I learned about Halloween was from the comics of ‘The Peanuts’. Of course, as a child I read it in Italian and ‘trick or treat’ was translated ‘dolcetto o scherzetto’ and ‘The Great Pumpkin’ as ‘Il Grande Cocomero’, which is quite funny as cocomero is watermelon in italian, not pumpkin 🤣
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Halloween in Italy TL;DR
Halloween falls on the 31 October.
Halloween is not a traditional Italian festivity and it s not a public holiday. It is a fun, mostly modern import, popular with children and young people. You will see it is shops, schools, theme parks and party venues rather that in any deep-rooted local custom.
The real Italian dates of notice are November 1 (Ognissanti, All Saints Day) and November 2 (Il Giorno dei Morti, All Souls Day or literally The Day of the Dead). November 1st is Holiday in Italy.
In terms of closures and events, expect a mix: In big cities you may find costume parties, themes menus, some decorations in restaurants and shops and kids’ events.
In smaller places, you find some references to it but more commonly decorations lean more towards harvest and seasonal themes than Halloween / gorey ones.
If in Italy on the 1st of November, I recommend you pay special attention to closures especially for small businesses and the schedule of public transport, such as buses, which normally follows a reduced Sunday schedule on this day. This is not the case on Halloween itself, the 31st.
Does Italy celebrate Halloween?
Th short answer is no, the longer answer is yes and no 🙂
Halloween as a tradition does not come from Italy and for a long time it simply wasn’t on out radar.
As a child, I knew of Halloween’s existence but it wasn’t something we’d celebrate and there was no sign of it in shops either: a little like Thanksgiving now, it was a foreign festivity we just didn’t have.
Today, however, we all know it. Most kids now know exactly what it is, many schools and kindergartens have consume days and you will find pumpkins, fake spiders, ragged ghosts and orange everything is supermarkets, shops, restaurants and more from the start of October.
Halloween in Italy is very much a celebration led by kids and young people.
Adults ignore it if they don’t have kids and parents may decide to join in, but you will not find the whole country lit up like a Halloween movie set. If you are expecting whole neighborhoods decorated with huge displays, this is really not our style, not even for Christmas.
Fun fact: some parishes have come up with a peculiar concept called Holyween (yes, in English), basically an alternative event on Halloween when kids dress up as figures inspired from the Sacred Scriptures or Saints! A very peculiar initiative but that has made the news as happening in several areas so maybe one to keep an eye out for!
Trick or Treating in Italy: does it happen?
Trick or treating happens in Italy in a fashion, but it is not as widespread as in the US.
The Italian for trick or treat is ‘dolcetto o scherzetto‘ (Literally: little sweet or little prank) and you will hear it from children in costumes on October 31.
In practice, it works differently depending on where you are:
In big apartment buildings and small neighbourhoods, kids may go door to door among neighbors and friends, usually by arrangement or in groups with parents and / or as part of a Halloween party thrown by one of the parents.
Tips and local businesses may give out sweets to children in costumes – don’t promise it as it may not happen! But if you see a place with many decorations outside, it is usually an encouraging sign, especially if you have very small kids, people tend to be nice and give stuff to them.
Organised events – many towns, parks and shopping centers organise Halloweens afternoons for kids with entertainment, kids costume contests, music, sweets etc. Some of these events are very small and local while others like those in theme parks can be rather big and elaborate.
If you want your children to have Halloween fun and you don’t have local friends to organise a trick of treating party here, looking for a local event such as these ones is the best option. Playgrounds are also a good place to meet local families: bringing candy to one may make you friends faster 🙂
How Italians really spend Halloween
For most Italians, the 31 October isa day like any other.
If celebrating, Halloween is about a few simple things at most:
Costume parties for children, at school, at home or in organised venues.
Parties for adults – bars, clubs and restaurants often host themed Halloween nights, particularly in cities and university towns. Please note that these nights are usually not for kids and not family friendly, they are more like full on custom nightclub events.
Pumpkin carving – pumpkins (zucche) are easy to find at this time of year, and carving them is popular with families.
Theme parks – some of Italy’s biggest parks run special Halloween seasons (see below).
The night itself is not particularly lively or special and in many places you may hardly notice it at all. If you are in places known for nightlife however, this is likely to be a bigger night than others.
Italian traditions: Ognissanti and the Day of the Dead
This time of year sees important crenellations in Italy, just not on the 31 October but rater on the 1st and 2nd of November.
On 1 November, we celebrate Ognissanti, All Saints’ Day. It is a public holiday, and it is traditionally a day for families to get together, usually around a meal, and potentially attend mass if catholic.
On 2 November, we mark il giorno dei morti, the Day of the Dead. Again, it is a day of remembrance, and cemeteries tend to be very busy with visitors.
If you pass a cemetery on these days, especially on the 2nd, you’ll see it full of people and flowers, especially chrysanthemums (crisantemi). In Italy, these are the flower of remembrance, which is why we never give them as a gift for a happy occasion. A good tip for anyone planning to bring flowers to an Italian host!
This is not a gloomy or macabre atmosphere, by the way. It is quiet and respectful, and it has a strong sense of family and continuity. If you visit a cemetery out of curiosity (many Italian ones are beautiful and historic), please be discreet and respectful, as these are days of real remembrance for many people.
Regional traditions you may not know about
Because Italy is Italy, the way these days are marked varies a lot by region, and some of the traditions are wonderful:
Sardinia – in Sardinia, they have very ancient traditions linked to this day. The name varies by area, for instance I learned of them as Is Animeddas or Su Mortu Mortu, and it is very much a Sardinian cousin of trick or treat: born from pastoral communities, it is a celebration marking the passing of the seasons and and a way to celebrate and placate the spirits of the ancestors, very present in Sardinian traditions and beliefs.
Sicily – in Sicily, the Day or the Dead is a significant family celebration and, in the past, a full on festivity for children. Now, the commercial appeal or American Style halloween is prevailing but there are still important traditions still alive especially when it comes to food: the famous frutta martorana (marzipan shaped like fruit, very very very reminiscent of the real thing) and pupi di zucchero (sugar figurines) are especially popular at this time.
Central and Northern Italy – many regions have their own special biscuits and breads for the occasion, which brings me to the best part of this post!
So while you may not have full on events, you will have sign of ancient customs from this time still alive and well!
Sweets to try around 1 and 2 November
If you are in Italy at this time, look out for these seasonal treats in bakeries (forni) and pastry shops (pasticcerie):
Frutta martorana – the marzipan fruit from Sicily, so realistic you may hesitate before biting.
Fave dei morti (“broad beans of the dead”) – small, crumbly almond biscuits, traditional in Central Italy especially. Despite the name, they are not made with beans, they just look a little like them!
Ossa dei morti (“bones of the dead“) – hard, sweet, white biscuits that reminds a little or the bones, hence the name! A great pick for kids who love the spooky name.
Pan dei morti (“bread of the dead”) – a dense, spiced biscuit with dried fruit and nuts, typical of Lombardy.
The names may sound macabre, but I promise they are delicious. They are also a lovely, easy way to bring a bit of Italian tradition into your trip, especially if you are travelling with children.
Roasted chestnuts (caldarroste) and castagnaccio – a rustic chestnut flour cake, which is more seasonal than specific to the day but perfect for this time of year.
Where to find Halloween fun in Italy for kids
If you are looking for something that feels more like a “proper” Halloween, a few ideas:
Theme parks – Gardaland near Lake Garda, Mirabilandia on the Adriatic coast and Cinecittà World in Rome have all run special Halloween seasons in recent years, with decorations, shows and themed attractions. Dates and opening days change every year, so check each park’s official website before planning.
Local kids’ events – many towns, shopping centres etc organise costume afternoons, pumpkin workshops and treasure hunts around 31 October. Some places now even have American Style pumpkin patches and they can be fun for small kids, especially if they feel they are missing out on the day back home.
A quick search for the specific place you are visiting (in Italian, Halloween bambini plus the name of the town, works well) is the best way to find them.
Towns with a spooky reputation – for something atmospheric, places linked to witch legends, like Triora in Liguria (nicknamed the “village of witches”), tend to put on events at this time of year.
Evening bars and restaurants (not for kids) – in larger cities, look out for Halloween-themed nights and menus.
Spooky (but Italian) places to visit around Halloween
If what you want is atmosphere rather than a party, Italy has plenty to offer at any time of year:
The Capuchin Crypt in Rome, decorated with the bones of thousands of friars, is a fascinating and slightly eerie visit (best for older kids and teens, and a good one to check opening times for in advance).
The catacombs of Rome or Naples – an unforgettable look at underground burial places that go back many centuries. No bones here though!
If you are travelling with children, I recommend checking the age suitability of crypts and catacombs, as some may find them a bit much! You can read here >> my thought about the Rome catacombs and suitability for kids
Medieval towns and castles – many small Italian towns have local ghost stories and legends, and evening walks in the old centres are lovely in autumn.
Practical tips if you are travelling over Halloween weekend
Remember 1 November is a public holiday. Expect many shops and businesses to be closed or on reduced hours, and check opening times of anything you know you want to visit. If they day falls close enough to a weekend, people tend to take days off and make a short holiday out of it – this is important if you are visiting popular places as it means you will get a lot of local tourism at this time.
Book restaurants ahead, if staying in a small town with limited options, since you will have many locals eating out as well
Check public transport timetables, as holiday schedules can be reduced.
Pack for autumn weather. Late October and early November can be mild and sunny in the south, and cool, foggy or rainy in the north. You can find here > my packing list for Italy in October and November
Be mindful of the atmosphere. Halloween parties and a day of remembrance happen side by side, so a little sensitivity goes a long way, especially if meeting local elderlies.
If you are planning a trip at this time of year, I also recommend my guide to Italy in October and Italy in November for weather and crowd expectations.
How to celebrate Halloween in Italy, the Italian way
If you’d like to mark the occasion while you’re here, why not give it an Italian twist?
Make a pumpkin risotto or tortelli di zucca (pumpkin-filled pasta, a speciality of Northern Italy) for a seasonal dinner.
Buy a bag of fave dei morti or ossa dei morti and let kids try a tradition they won’t find at home.
Carve a zucca with the family, since pumpkins are easy to find at markets and supermarkets at this time of year.
Try roasted chestnuts from a street vendor on a cool evening, one of the best smells of Italian autumn.
Visit a local autumn festival (sagra), as many towns hold food festivals dedicated to chestnuts, mushrooms, truffles and wine in October and November.
I hope you found this post helpful, and the ideas for Halloween in Italy a bit of fun. Buon Halloween, or Buon Ognissanti!