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This saturday, I have a special spooky Italian thread ready for you. Many think Halloween is an American festivity, but in truth, it was celebrated in Europe way before the colonization of America. And in Italy too! So, buckle up for
ITALIAN HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS
1/?
ITALIAN HALLOWEEN TRADITIONS 1/?
Of course, the Italian celebrations connected to Halloween vary from region to region. In Apulia, people celebrate 'Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje' ('fires and heads of Purgatory') in which people would carve crosses on the pumpkins to ward off the souls of the damned. 2/?
At midnight, hooded people would knock from home to home asking for “l’aneme d’i murt” (the soul of the dead = the dinner left overs) which they would then distribute among the poor. This tradition dates back to 100 AD! 3/?
In Calabria, young people would carve pumpkins in the shape of a skull - the 'coccalu di muortu' - and then would walk around the town asking 'mi lu pagati lu coccalu?' (would you pay my skull?), a tradition that reminds us of the anglo treat or trick. 4/?
Similarly, in Abruzzo the pumpkins are called 'cocce de morte' and are paraded around town by groups of young people. They're considered the personification of the dead, and thus they introduce themselves as 'l’aneme de le morte' (the souls of the dead) when asking for treats 5/?
Often, the collection of treats is accompanied by traditional songs:
'Today is the feast of all the Saints,
be good to these wandering souls,
if you really care about us,
you'd find another coin in your pockets'
6/?
'Today is the feast of all the Saints,
be good to these wandering souls,
if you really care about us,
you'd find another coin in your pockets'
6/?
In Sicily, the Day of the Dead (which we celebrate the 2nd of November) is a bit like Christmas. The kids will receive the 'cannistro', a basket full of toys and sweets allegedly gifted to them by the souls of their dearly departed. 7/?
In truth, the sweets and toys are bought by their parents in specific open markets called 'fiere dei morti' (fairs of the dead) set up for the occasion. Man, now I want to go to Sicily during the Day of the Dead, must be a sight! 8/?
In Sardinia, the evening of the 31st October people celebrate Is Animeddas (or Su Mortu Mortu if you're up north, but they're basically the same). Here, too, children would walk the town dressed as the souls of the dead, asking for sweets and fruit. 9/?
You also had to leave a bowl of pasta out as an offering for Maria punta boru, an evil old spirit that otherwhise would puncture your stomach and steal the pasta you ate! Hardcore pasta myths. 10/?
In Friuli, people still celebrate the ancient Celtic new year, which starts the 31st of October. The celebration is called 'the feast of the pumpkins', or 'la Fiesta dalis Muars' in local dialect. People carve pumpkins and leave them out to illuminate the night. 11/?
It's tought that the soul of the dead can wander the earth during this night, and gather inside the churches. If anyone were to step foot inside a church during the fiesta dalis muars, he would be dead by sunrise! 12/?
In Tuscany, people celebrate the bèn d’i morti (good of the dead) by sharing their food with the poor, setting up public lunches where everyone can participate. They also gift children necklace made out of boiled chestnuts and apples, called 'sfilze' 13/?
In Piedmont, people also set up public lunches and dinners... but for the dead! Then, they go to the cemetery, to leave the souls eating in peace and chatting. It is thought that their conversations will predict the future of their living relatives. 14/?
And this would be all! Unfortunately, these traditions are slowly disappearing, replaced by the American-style Halloween feast. Some lives on though, in specific towns that have made a point of preserving our heritage. 15/?
I hope you found this thread interesting! Browse this moment for more threads about Italian history and culture. And happy Halloween! https://twitter.com/i/events/1300196333505179648
https://twitter.com/i/events/1300196333505179648
