Celebrate Halloween in Italy with ItaliaRail
Somerville, MA (PRWEB) September 30, 2013 -- Halloween — the North American spooky day of costumes, tricks and treats — is gaining popularity in Italy. Carved pumpkins, costumed kids running through the piazzas and posters for Halloween parties at local restaurants or clubs, can be seen in cities throughout Italy. The celebrations are so prevalent, it’s fair to say Halloween has been embraced by the Italian people.
In Rome, there are Halloween tours of creepy catacombs lined with mummies and bones. In Bologna, you can visit medieval castles and towers during special evening tours. From the end of October through early November, Venice hosts Spettacoli di Mistero or Shows of Mystery, special plays and performances based on the legends and mysteries of Venice.
The charming medieval town of Corinaldo in central Italy, is also known as the “Halloween capital of Italy”. La Notte delle Streghe, or the Night of the Witches, takes place here each year on October 31st. The festival boasts short skits, music, dancing, and the Miss Strega or Miss Witch competition. The town center is festively decorated and there are fireworks at midnight.
Two important religious holidays fall just after Halloween in Italy. November 1st, is Tutti i Santi or All Saints Day, whereby all saints and martyrs are honored for their service to the Catholic Church. Unlike Halloween, this is a national holiday in Italy. Businesses are closed and families attend mass together. It is known as quiet day of reflection.
On November 2, Tutti i Morti, or All Souls Day, the faithful remember all family and loved ones who have passed away. Cemeteries are often crowded with locals who clean up and refresh the graves of their dearly departed. Traditionally, Halloween, or All Hallows’ Eve, was just the beginning of the celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. While these are still the main holidays recognized in Italy, Halloween is certainly gaining in popularity. For many Italians, it’s just another day to celebrate and have a party. Italian children can be seen walking from store to store through towns asking, “Dolcetto o scherzetto?” Trick or treat?
All of the above mentioned cities and festivities are accessible by train. In fact, it’s the easiest, most scenic and relaxing way to travel.
Take the train through Italy to experience it all. Visit http://www.italiarail.com for more details.
About ItaliaRail: ItaliaRail are the experts on Italy train tickets and passes. In cooperation with Trenitalia, Italy's national railway, ItaliaRail provides a direct connection to Trenitalia's reservation system allowing rail travelers access to the most routes at the best prices. Travelers are able to book in multiple currencies and knowledgeable customer service agents are available to answer questions and give advice on train travel throughout Italy. ItaliaRail was launched in 2005 and is a division of International Rail, LLC.
Mary Ekelund, International Rail, LLC, http://www.interrail.com, +1 (617) 519-5660, [email protected]
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