November is inaugurated by two important religious feasts in Italy:听All Saints Day听补苍诲听All Souls Day, on November 1st听and 2nd, respectively.听These are very important days in听the Catholic tradition and their roots can be found deep in its听past.
All Saints Day (November 1st) in Italy
La Festa di Ognissanti, or the All Saints Feast, is a religious event celebrated on November 1st.听This feast celebrates all the saints of the Catholic calendar.
The origins of this听feast date back to very ancient times. In fact, records exist of celebrations held in honor of Christian saints even during the very first centuries of the development of Christianity. Writings related to the dedication by Pope Boniface IV of the Roman Pantheon to听“Mary and all the martyrs”听on May 13th听609 AD can be considered as the symbolic text inaugurating the tradition.
Over听the course of time, the feast was moved to November 1st听for reasons that are still unclear. There are claims that听All Saints Day听was moved to November by Alcuin, the counselor of Charlemagne, so that the Church could christianize the pagan feast of the Celtic New Year, which allowed for celebrations to听last three whole days. Whatever the reason, it was decided that the feast would take place in November and, as of June 1st,听1949, the Italian Constitution listed the day of听Ognissanti听as a public holiday.
All Souls Day (November 2nd) in Italy
This feast is directly tied to听the celebration of听All Saints Day, and follows it directly on the calendar, on November 2nd.听The direct link between the two days can be traced back to 998 AD,听when the Abbot Odilo听of Cluny established the day to remember the dead should follow the day celebrating all the Saints, mainly because the dead were believed to be able to intercede with God for the living, very much like saints.
It is also not surprising that Catholics chose to honor the dead during this time period. Many ancient civilizations celebrated the dead in the months of October and November, likely owing to the fact that the coming Winter was in direct contrast to the rebirth of Spring. The date of November 2苍诲听is also听connected to the Day of the Deluge听as told in the听骋别苍别蝉颈蝉,听hence making many people believe it was chosen to remember those who perished during it and exorcise another similar disaster.
Rituals and Popular Beliefs
All Souls Day听has a common denominator in many parts of Italy: the belief the听departed will visit that day.听Even though听it is a religious event, there are many popular traditions that remain alive to this day, which combine pagan and Catholic elements.
The entire country is united in celebrating听All Saints and All Souls Day听by honoring the dead, a habit mirrored in the loving care taken in the weeks running to those days in preparing, cleaning and decorating graves, in a manner which is extremely close to that typical of Mexican听and, more generally, South American tradition. In certain areas of Italy, some peculiar habits stand out more than other, habits that find their roots in tradition, heritage and the undying love for those who no longer live that accomunate us all.
Special celebrations for All Saints and All Souls Day, region by region
Lombardia:听in some parts of this Northern region, people put a bottle of fresh water in the kitchen so that the听dead can quench their thirst.
Friuli Venezia-Giulia:听some leave out a lamp, a bucket of water and a little bread, so that the dead can find their way home and, once there, eat and drink.
Veneto:听people offer traditional biscuits, known as the “ossi da morti” (the bones of the dead), to their lovers. These cookies are popular in other regions of the north, such as Piemonte, as well as in Sicily, albeit recipes differs slightly from an area to another.
Trentino Alto Adige:听bells ring to call the dead to their homes. The table听is set for them and the fireplace is kept going for the whole night.
Piemonte听a苍诲听Val d’Aosta:听just like in Trentino Alto Adige, the table is often left set for the dead to feast.
Liguria:听people cook broad beans and chestnuts and, in the past, it was traditional for听grandparents to tell scary stories to their grandchildren.
Umbria:听cakes known as听Stinchetti dei Morti听(the shins of the dead) are popular in this region and they are served听to ease the sadness of this day.
Abruzzo:听lamps are left lit and the table set,听while听children go to bed with a bag of broad beans and candies,听to symbolize the link between听past and present generations.
In ancient times, the听Romans听used to eat听next to the grave of their relatives in order to keep them company.
Sicily:听people let kids believe that, if they pray and they are good, they will then receive gifts from the dead.
Whether these beliefs are true or not, the day of听All Souls听represents an important feast honoring loved ones who have passed. A little bit religious and a little bit pagan, the true essence of this feast includes visiting听cemeteries and remembering the dearly departed. Together,听All Saints Day听补苍诲听All Souls Day听are important dates on the calendar for Catholics and Italians alike.
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