Whether Italians like or not, Halloween has haunted Italy and Florence for some time. In just a few years, this imported pagan festival, which in fact originated in Europe, has become a custom here, with some eight million Italians celebrating it. Now a 200-million-euro business, according to a 2008 report by the Italian consumer group Codacons, what may have been viewed as a passing trend a few years back seems here to stay.
While many Italians worry that Halloween, which many see as just a moneymaking opportunity for business, threatens to overshadow the country’s traditional costume festival of Carnival, more and more Italians are starting to appreciate the costume parties and overall fun that Halloween brings. Walk into any supermarket from Florence to Venice and down to Palermo and you’ll find the same bats, jack-o-lanterns and Halloween kitsch that you’d find at any corner store state-side.
Whether because of globalized markets or cross-fertilization of cultures, Halloween is here to stay, so enjoy it! Ride a broomstick this October 31 or get spooked with one of our features and celebrate Allhallows Eve!
