We all know that every country has its own customs: this is why each part of Europe celebrates October 31st, November 1st and November 2nd in different ways.
OCTOBER 31ST/HALLOWEEN
The Anglo-Saxon Halloween celebration corresponds to Celtic New Year’s Eve and to the end of summer, which was called “Samhein”. For many centuries, people have been believing that during the night between October 31st and November 1st dead people came back from afterlife and walked on Earth alongside living people. This is why Middle Ages people wore masks or costumes to avoid to be recognized and to organize propitiatory rites. Nowadays, Halloween is a celebrated and loved more and more by Europeans: they usually dress up, carve Jack O’Lantern pumpkins and ring houses’ doorbells asking “trick or treat?”.
NOVEMBER 1ST
Things change when we consider November 1st celebrations, which are different in each country. In Italy, it’s called “ognissanti” (all Saints’ day), it’s a religious holiday and it was established by Pope Gregory II in the VII century to “convert this period to christianism”, as it’s been stained by Halloween’s paganism. In 835, this day was declared holiday by King Louis the Pious so today all commercial activities and public institutions are closed. Italians pass this day with their family, they exchange gifts, they celebrate the glory and the honor of all Saints and of those who have a Saint’s first name.
In Massa Carrara, people traditionally give “sfilza” to children, which are boiled chestnuts and apples necklaces that they wear the following day.
In these days, Italians also prepare desserts like castagnaccio (a chestnut-based cake) and “pan dei morti” (a loaf of bread with raisins and dried fruits).
NOVEMBER 2ND
On this day, Italians recall the dead ones. it’s not considered a holy-day day but it’s anyway very felt by them, as they visit graveyards to bring flowers and candles to the relatives and friends who passed by. The death cult has ancient origins: already during the period of the Roman Empire people practiced rites to plead for peace to the deceased ones.
Are you looking for something to do on these days? We suggest you:
-Lucca Comics & Games (Discover our houses in Lucca)
-Festa delle castagne in Fivizzano (MS) (Discover our houses in Anghiari)
-Volterragusto (PI) (Discover our houses in Volterra)
-Fiera di Ognissanti in Camaiore (LU) (Discover our houses in Camaiore)
