October is coming to an end, and that can mean only one thing: Halloween!!
Originally a Celtic custom, the spooky festival has rapidly spread across the world.
October 31 is now a date for people to get together, dress up in scary costumes, and have lots of fun.
But what is Halloween all about?
Is it just trick-or-treating, or is there more to it?
We’ll shed light on those questions in this article. We’ll also talk about some events in Italy you can attend with your friends this Halloween. Dive right in!!!
History of Halloween
As said before, Halloween has Celtic roots. It originated from Samhain, a festival celebrated on October 31 to mark the end of summer and the beginning of winter.
The Celts associated winter with death. As such, they believed that on October 31, the boundary between the living world and the spirit world is weakened, allowing the spirits to sneak in. The spirits who made it into the human world went around damaging crops and bothering the locals.
To protect the Celts and ward off the spirits, the Druids (Celtic priests) lit huge bonfires where locals burned crops and sacrificed animals. Alongside this, the Celts also dressed up in costumes made of animal skin and heads and engaged in fortune-telling.
After the celebrations were over, the Celts re-lit their hearth fire using the bonfire as a means of protection from the harsh winter.
Later, Pope Gregory III, in the eighth century, declared November 1 as the day to honor all saints (Ognissanti). All Saints Day was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas, and the evening before was All-hallows-eve, which eventually became Halloween.
Halloween Traditions
Modern Halloween traditions still have some resemblance to their Celtic roots. Although people don’t burn bonfires anymore, they do follow certain aspects. This section looks at some of the popular Halloween traditions.
Trick-or-Treating
This is the most popular activity during Halloween, in which people of all ages partake.
During dolcetto o scherzetto (Italian for trick-or-treating), people, especially kids, dress up in scary costumes and go door-to-door. They usually put up a performance related to the costume they’re wearing or request candy. Most homeowners give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Not all costumes are scary. Some people opt for popular characters rather than scary ones. This year, characters like the Labubu Doll, Rumi and Zoey from K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wednesday Adams, and M3GAN seem to be trending.
Pumpkin Carving
Carving spooky faces onto pumpkins is a popular Halloween tradition. It stems from the Irish tradition of carving scary faces on turnips, placing a candle inside, and keeping it at the doorstep. The belief was that the carved turnips would ward off evil spirits.
Turnips eventually turned into the jack-o’-lanterns made from pumpkins we have today. From stereotypical scary faces to creative and grotesque designs, pumpkin carving has come a long way to become a must-try Halloween tradition.
Halloween Parties
Halloween parties are some of the most fun events ever to happen, especially for teenagers and young adults. People dressed in spooky costumes, munching on dishes like “fave dei morti” (beans of the dead) and “ossa di morto” (bones of the dead), and sipping on some quality beer—this is what Halloween parties are all about.
These parties are also a great opportunity to play some music or binge-watch popular horror movies.
Halloween Events in Italy
The Halloween fever has reached Italy as well. There are plenty of events happening across the country, where people of all ages participate, socialize, and engage in some harmless pranking. Here are some popular Halloween events happening across Italy this year.
- The Festival of Witches (Festa Delle Streghe) - Corinaldo
- Halloween Celebration Carnival - Villa Reale di Marlia, Lucca
- Gasometro Halloween 2025 - Città dell’Altra Economia, Rome
- Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje - Orsara di Puglia
Wrapping Things Up
Halloween doesn’t just have to be a festival of scares; it can also be a reason for new beginnings. Why not make your Halloween extra special by switching to Lyca Mobile, the largest Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) in the world?
With close to two decades of experience in the telecom sector, Lyca Mobile strives to ensure every individual stays connected wherever they go. This ambition has helped it reach where it is today; having a notable presence in 22 countries with over 15 million customers, and counting.
Lyca Mobile’s objective is to make people’s lives easy. And we have a special offer this Halloween to do just that. Our special plan, 5G Portin 599, is the most affordable plan in Italy. For less than €6, you get 150 GB of 5G data, 2 free renewals for, and more. Check out the offer for more details.
Don’t forget to have a ball this Halloween by switching to the most affordable operator in Italy.