How Italians Celebrate All Saints Day.

It’s a day celebrated around the world and with Italy, it’s no different. All Saints Day is an annual celebration of Christian saints both known and unknown. A religious and historical occasion where saints and martyrs are honored and a whole line-up of party food is enjoyed.

History of All Saints Day

All Saints Day, also known as Tutti I Santi, or La Festa di Ognissanti in Italy, celebrates all those who have entered heaven. The history of this religious celebration dates back to the early fourth century. It’s a day celebrated every year on 1st November across the globe. The holiday wasn’t cemented though until the early seventh century by Pope Boniface IV, who devoted Rome’s Pantheon to the Virgin Mary and all martyrs.

Italian Traditions

Like British traditions for Guy Fawkes and Halloween of fireworks and trick or treating, Italy has its traditions for All Saints Day. In Italy, All Saints Day is a public holiday, and therefore, most public institutes and businesses will be closed – with many people spending the day with family and friends. Some traditions of the day include gift-giving and attending church services – in Rome, the pope holds a large mass that’s open to the public. At Diforti, we have a range of food gifts and food gift ideas if you find yourself celebrating this year.

On the 2nd November, known as All Souls Day, Italians will recall the dead by bringing flowers, particularly chrysanthemums, and lighting candles at graveyards. This is their way of paying their respects to families and friends who’ve passed away. Even though this takes place after All Saints Day, it’s still considered a holiday tradition.

Some regions of Italy will even have parades where local school children will dress up as their favorite saints. This is another way that helps memorialize those who’ve passed and educates a new generation to continue these traditions for years to come.

Food

All Saints Day is a feast day enjoyed by family and friends who sit down for a meal. At Diforti, traditional dishes found during this celebration are roasted chestnuts, pumpkin risottos, and truffles.

Pasta is always a good idea for a feast, especially with a large group, bring the heat to your dish with  Sicilian Hot Cherry Tomato Sauce – or mix it up with some Aubergine Parmigiana and a sprinkling of Grated Grana Padano for a truly flavorsome dish.

"Ossa dei morti", or what is or, "sweets of the dead", are the typical Italian desserts. The elaboration of this typical Halloween dessert is very present in all Italian cities since it has roots derived from the culture of Greco-Roman. It is a Catholic tradition that is intended to honor the dead, on November 2, in Sicily, sweets called "bones of the dead" are made, due to their bone shape. It is a hard candy that is difficult to chew and is part of the set of typical Italian Halloween desserts.

Another classic dessert of the Sicilian tradition to commemorate the dead is tetù, made from almonds. This cookie is one of the most demanded of its exquisite flavor and softness since when biting it, it gives off a slight aroma of chocolate.

Among the popular desserts of this time of year, there is also the “Frutta Martorana”, a sweet made of sugar and almond flour, also typical of Sicily. Its name derives from the Church of Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio or the Martorana of Palermo.