How to talk about Halloween in Italian

| Fri, 10/25/2019 - 05:33

There are two Italian public and religious holidays around this time of year celebrating the spirit world and those that have departed:

November 1st– La Festa di Ognissanti (All Saints’ Day)

November 2nd–Il Giorno dei Morti (All Souls’ Day) 

Halloween itself, on 31s tOctober, isn’t a recognised holiday in Italy. However, celebrations as we know them in the US and the UK, have grown in popularity in recent years. Up and down the country, you can find something for children and adults alike. Whether it’s ghost tours of the catacombs, haunted events at medieval castles and crypts, creepy costume parties at nightclubs, or spooky Halloween themed meals at restaurants. 

If you’re thinking about celebrating Halloween in Italy this year and are planning on dressing up for the occasion, here is some useful vocabulary:

 

Il costume - costume / fancy dress 

La festa in maschera - costume party / fancy dress party

Travestirsi – to dress up

La strega – witch

Il manico di scopa - broomstick

Il gatto – cat

Il ragno – spider

La ragnatela - spiderweb

Lo scheletro - skeleton

La mummia – mummy

Il diavolo – devil

La zucca – pumpkin / squash

La maschera – mask

Il vampiro – vampire

Il fantasma - ghost

Il trucco – make up

Gli accessori – accessories

Il cappello – hat

Il cppello da strega – witch’s hat

 

If you’re more interested in the treats to be eaten at Halloween, then there are a few words to describe sweets or candy in Italian: i dolciumi, i dolcetti or le caramelle. And how about ‘trick or treat’? In Italian this is ‘dolcetto o scherzetto’.

 

And in order to help you to describe your frightening Halloween experience in Italian, check out these words:

Orrore - horror 

Stregato – bewitched / enchanted / cursed

Spettrale – spooky

Spaventoso – scary / frightening

Infestato - haunted

 

If you’re planning on going out for Halloween in Italy this 31st October, remember that it’s a holiday on 1st November so no getting up early for work the next morning! Now that’s something to celebrate. Buon Halloween!