Witches, Ghosts and Goblins

Cellophane packets of cobwebs scattered next to creepy spiders and plastic skulls at the Tabacchi offered an early clue. Carved jack-o-lanterns in store windows confirmed it. Halloween has come to Italy, much to my surprise.

“Its been gradually catching on over about the last ten years,” my American friend Paula said as she draped a gauzy cobweb over a mirror. On Halloween afternoon, she and Anna decked out A Campana, the little bistro in the village, for “Apericena” their own take on a festive Halloween apertivo/dinner event.

Halloween at  A Campana in Panzano!

As dusk fell in Greve, the piazza filled with kids in costume escorted by parents who joined in the fun. With a chorus of “Dolcetto o scherzetto,” witches, ghosts and skeletons held out their bags for shop owners to drop in a sweet treat or two.

It looked just like Halloween back home! Italy gave us pizza and pasta and yummy prosciutto and cheeses and we gave them …..Halloween?

Italian witches out for some Halloween fun

Waiting for a dolcetto