All Saints' Day
also known as All Hallows or Solemnity of All Saints
Solemnity of all Saints
Public life
All Saints’ Day is a nationwide public holiday in Italy. Organizations and businesses that are closed include:
- Government offices.
- Post offices.
- Banks.
- Schools and other educational institutions.
The origins
Rituals
- Lombardia: In some parts of this Northern region, people put a bottle of fresh water in the kitchen so that the dead can quench their thirst.
- In Friuli, some leave out a lamp, a bucket of water and a little bread.
- In Trentino, bells ring to call the dead and the table is left set and the fireplace lit for the whole night.
-In Piemonte and in Val d'Aosta the tradition of a set table is quite widespread.
-In Liguria people used to cook broad beans and chestnuts and in the past grandparents used to tell scary stories.
- In Umbria people use to cook cakes known as Stinchetti dei Morti (the shins of the dead), in order to ease the sadness of this day.
- In Abruzzo, lamps are left lit and the table is left set while children go to bed with a bag of broad beans and confections to symbolize the link between the past and present generations.
- In ancient times Romans used to eat lunch next to the grave of their relatives in order to keep them company.
- In Sicily people let kids believe that if they pray and they are good they will then receive gifts from dead people.