All Saint's Day

When in Rome...

November 1, All Saint's Day and the 2nd, All Souls Day are national holidays in Italy. The two are celebrated together beginning on All Hallow's Eve. Apparently the way to start the celebration is with wine from the new harvest, called Novello or Ribolla and roasted chestnuts, or castagna.

The next day, if children are good throughout the year, there should be gifts hidden throughout the house by their remembered deceased loved ones. After gifts are found, a trip to a cemetery is in order to honor the dead and bring flowers to family gravesites.

This holiday is considered to be a Holy Day of Obligation to the Roman Catholic Church in Italy. St Peter's Basilica and the Pantheon will have mass on this day.  Many other churches normally closed will very likely be open on this important holiday.

I'd like to find a cultural festival that is happening nearby, and I'm sure it won't be too hard.

A traditional way to feast this night is by eating lentils or soul food and to leave your front door open and set an empty place at your table for any soul who might care to join you. I will have to look for biscotti ossi di morti or bones of the dead cookies for dessert.