There are two Italian public and religious holidays around this time of year celebrating the spirit world and those that have departed:
November 1st– La Festa di Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day)
November 2nd–Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls’ Day)
Halloween itself, on 31s tOctober, isn’t a recognised holiday in Italy. However, celebrations as we know them in the US and the UK, have grown in popularity in recent years. Up and down the country, you can find something for children and adults alike. Whether it’s ghost tours of the catacombs, haunted events at medieval castles and crypts, creepy costume parties at nightclubs, or spooky Halloween themed meals at restaurants.
If you’re thinking about celebrating Halloween in Italy this year and are planning on dressing up for the occasion, here is some useful vocabulary:
Il costume - costume / fancy dress
La festa in maschera - costume party / fancy dress party
Travestirsi – to dress up
La strega – witch
Il manico di scopa - broomstick
Il gatto – cat
Il ragno – spider
La ragnatela - spiderweb
Lo scheletro - skeleton
La mummia – mummy
Il diavolo – devil
La zucca – pumpkin / squash
La maschera – mask
Il vampiro – vampire
Il fantasma - ghost
Il trucco – make up
Gli accessori – accessories
Il cappello – hat
Il cppello da strega – witch’s hat
If you’re more interested in the treats to be eaten at Halloween, then there are a few words to describe sweets or candy in Italian: i dolciumi, i dolcetti or le caramelle. And how about ‘trick or treat’? In Italian this is ‘dolcetto o scherzetto’.
And in order to help you to describe your frightening Halloween experience in Italian, check out these words:
Orrore - horror
Stregato – bewitched / enchanted / cursed
Spettrale – spooky
Spaventoso – scary / frightening
Infestato - haunted
If you’re planning on going out for Halloween in Italy this 31st October, remember that it’s a holiday on 1st November so no getting up early for work the next morning! Now that’s something to celebrate. Buon Halloween!
