Halloween in Italy

At this time a year we're all familiar with jack-o'-lanterns sitting on window shelves, spiderwebs hanging from trees and children dressing up as spooky creatures. Originating from a Celtic festival to ward off ghosts, Halloween is still being celebrated in Italy and all over the world today - even if slightly differently.

Although Halloween is not a recognised holiday in Italy, it's still not stopping people from dressing up as ghosts, zombies and witches every year and going trick-or-treating (in Italian: Dolcetto o Scherzetto). For children, costume parties are held during the day and in the city centres, there's many local stores handing out candy to the young ones. Adults can choose from many restaurants, nightclubs and bars that advertise their Halloween parties, BUT do not expect the degree of celebration that is normal in the U.S. - It is not a part of traditional Italian culture and some Italians even disagree with it being celebrated in their country at all.