Halloween may be increasingly visible in Italian shops, schools and city nightlife, but the country’s most meaningful dates at the start of November fall just afterwards. All Saints’ Day, or Ognissanti, is celebrated on 1 November, followed by All Souls’ Day on 2 November, known as the Commemorazione dei Defunti or, more informally, Giorno dei Morti.
The key dates: Halloween, Ognissanti and All Souls’ Day
- 31 October: Halloween, a modern and increasingly popular celebration in Italy, particularly among children, students and nightlife venues.
- 1 November: Ognissanti or All Saints’ Day, a national public holiday.
- 2 November: All Souls’ Day, dedicated to remembering the dead. It is widely observed but is not a nationwide public holiday.
