L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 10 L'Italo-Americano I taly has a number of old traditions tied to autumn, particularly around All Saints' Day (Ognissanti) on November 1st and All Souls' Day (Commemorazione dei Defunti) on November 2nd. Many of them share similari- ties with traditional Hal- loween festivities and also with the Mexican Día de los Muertos, as they all honor the d e a d , i n c l u d e r i t u a l i s t i c meals, and often feature ele- ments that echo the spooki- ness and symbolism associat- ed with death. Let's take a look at some ancient tradi- tions from different regions of Italy that bear striking simi- larities to customs we may be familiar with, also on our side of the pond. Puglia – carved pump- kins and rituals for the dead In Puglia, particularly in t h e a r e a o f O r s a r a d i Puglia, a centuries-old tradi- t i o n o f p u m p k i n c a r v i n g exists, which is notably simi- lar to the American custom of making Jack O'Lanterns. The practice also mirrors the light symbolism we find in the Día de los Muertos, where candles guide the spirits back to the living world. In Orsara, on the night between November 1st a n d 2 n d , t h e l o c a l s c a r v e pumpkins (zucche) and place candles inside them to guide the souls of the departed. Known as Fucacoste e Cocce Priatorje, this celebration sees the streets illuminated by these carved pumpkins, while families gather around bon- f i r e s t o r e m e m b e r t h e i r deceased loved ones. Calabria – coccalu di muortu and the quest for treats In Calabria, especially in rural villages, a hauntingly s i m i l a r t r a d i t i o n t o H a l - loween's trick-or-treating can b e f o u n d . T h e t r a d i t i o n , known as coccalu di muor- t u , l i t e r a l l y t r a n s l a t e s t o "skull of the dead:" during this celebration, children walk from door to door, holding carved turnips or pumpkins with lit candles inside, while they chant "Mi lu dai lu coc- calu?", meaning "Will you give me a skull?" With the sentence, similar to asking for candy in exchange for sparing someone from a Halloween t r i c k , t h e c o c c a l u d i m u o r t u m i x e s t h e p l a y f u l aspects of interacting with the supernatural with a deeper respect for the dead. Sardinia – su mortu mortu and celebrating the Dead On the island of Sardinia, we find a tradition similar to Mexico's Día de los Muertos, the su mortu mortu. This practice involves creating elaborate altars in homes and cemeteries, much like the ofrendas seen in Mexico. Families then set out food and gifts for the souls of their deceased relatives, with chil- dren dressed in old clothes visiting houses asking for treats, often reciting phrases like "Mi donai is animas?" ("Will you give me something for the souls?"). The resem- blance to the Mexican Day of the Dead is striking, particu- larly in the attention given to t h e p r e p a r a t i o n o f a l t a r s (lughus de is animas), the offering of food, and the idea of interaction between the liv- ing and the dead. This is a c e l e b r a t i o n o f d e a t h t h a t views it not much as an end but as a connection between two worlds, and a continua- tion of life. S i c i l y – u c a n n i s t r u and gifts for the dead In Sicily, the tradition of u c a n n i s t r u f o c u s e s o n honoring deceased ancestors by giving gifts to children. On the night of November 1st, children believe that the spir- its of their dead relatives return to leave gifts in a bas- ket (cannistru), which usual- ly contains frutta martorana (marzipan fruits) and other sweets. The following day, children wake up to discover their gifts, believing they have come from the souls of the departed. Naples – the ghostly legend of o'munaciello Naples is known for its supernatural folklore year- r o u n d , b u t t h e t r a d i t i o n s around All Saints' Day have a particularly spooky flavor. The most famous supernatur- al figure tied to this period is the o'munaciello, a mis- chievous spirit or ghost often portrayed as a small monk. Neapolitans believe that he can either bring good luck or cause trouble, much like the trickster spirits associated with Halloween. People typi- cally leave offerings or food to a p p e a s e h i m , h o p i n g f o r blessings instead of curses. Don't o'munaciello's naughti- ness and penchant for trick- ery make you think of trick or treating and the funny, irrev- erent side of Halloween? T u s c a n y – l a n o t t e delle lumere and proces- sions of light In Tuscany, particularly in the area around Pisa, the tra- d i t i o n o f l a n o t t e d e l l e lumere (the night of the lanterns) closely resembles H a l l o w e e n ' s t r a d i t i o n o f lighting up the night with candles and carved pump- kins. On the night of October 31st, the streets are filled with candlelit processions, where locals carry lanterns made from carved pumpkins or gourds, lighting the way for the souls of the dead. Similar to Halloween's Jack O'Lantern traditions, the act of illuminating the night sym- bolizes warding off evil spirits while also guiding the souls of the deceased back to their families. This tradition, like the others, reflects the belief that this time of year is when the barrier between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, a concept shared with many cultures around the world. Italy's many traditions connected with All Saints' D a y a n d A l l S o u l s ' D a y demonstrate that, while Hal- loween may be seen as an imported holiday, similar rit- uals and celebrations have deep roots in the country's own culture; each of these practices reminds us that even in different parts of the world, we often show our love a n d c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e departed in the same way, a way at times fun and at times spooky, but always filled with affection. CHIARA D'ALESSIO I t a l i a n A u t u m n t r a d i t i o n s : t h e Halloween connection! In Naples, this time of the year is all for "o'munaciello" (Image created with the aid of DALL-E 2) Frutta martorana, made with almond paste, is one of the treats you can find in the Sicilian "cannistru" (Photo: Laudibi/Dreamstime) LIFE PEOPLE PLACES EVENTS

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