Halloween in Italy – Autumn in Milan means shorter days, the smell of roasted chestnuts, and pumpkins everywhere! Even though Halloween isn’t a traditional Italian holiday, it’s become a fun opportunity to explore our culture through food, words, and mysterious local legends. 🍂
In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through Italian autumn recipes, spooky expressions, and Milan’s haunted history—a perfect mix to learn new Italian vocabulary and experience the most atmospheric season of the year.
🎃 1. Halloween “Made in Italy”: Between Tradition and Creativity
While Halloween originated far from Italy, over the last two decades it has found its own place here, especially among younger generations. Cities turn orange, restaurants prepare pumpkin-themed menus, and language schools (like ours!) organize activities about fear, mystery, and Italian idioms connected to emotions.
Many Italians blend Halloween with the long-standing celebrations of All Saints’ Day (November 1st) and All Souls’ Day (November 2nd) — solemn yet sweet moments to honor the dead. In fact, Italy has a long culinary tradition of “spooky sweets” that turn remembrance into celebration.
🧁 Traditional Sweets of All Saints’ Day
- Pane dei morti (“Bread of the Dead”) – a rich Lombard dessert made with cocoa, crumbled biscuits, dried figs, and raisins.
- Ossa dei morti (“Bones of the Dead”) – almond biscuits, crunchy and fragrant, found all over Italy.
- Fave dei morti (“Beans of the Dead”) – small almond cookies, white or colored, symbolizing the souls of the departed.
Despite their macabre names, these sweets tell a story of affection: in Italy, food is often a way to remember with kindness.
🎃 2. Pumpkin: The Queen of Italian Autumn
When you think of Halloween, you think of pumpkins. In Italy, we don’t just carve them — we cook them! From Lombardy to Sicily, pumpkin is the star of countless regional recipes, bringing warmth and sweetness to chilly autumn days.
🍽️ Italian Dishes with Pumpkin
- Pumpkin Risotto – creamy, buttery, and fragrant with white wine and Parmesan; in Milan, it often includes saffron for an even more golden hue.
- Tortelli di zucca from Mantua – a surprising sweet-and-savory pasta filled with pumpkin, amaretti, and mostarda (candied fruit mustard).
- Pumpkin Cream Soup – silky and comforting, perfect with crunchy croutons and a drizzle of olive oil.
👉 Language tip: in Italian, “pumpkin” is zucca.
But beware of idioms! Saying “avere la zucca vuota” (to have an empty pumpkin) means “to be a bit silly,” while “usare la zucca” means “to use your brain!” 🧠
👻 3. Haunted Milan: Legends and Lost Souls
Between one risotto and another, Milan hides ghost stories that echo through centuries. Whispers in cloisters, shadows in Brera’s courtyards, noblewomen wandering old palaces… this elegant city also has its dark side.
If you’re curious about mysterious places and urban legends, don’t miss our article on Italian Cultural Immersion: Milan’s Haunted Legends & Spooky Places.
It’s a perfect Halloween read for language lovers who want to explore Italy beyond clichés. 👀
At Il Centro – Italian School for Foreigners, we often include storytelling activities in our cultural immersion program: listening to a ghost legend in Italian is not only thrilling but a great way to learn new vocabulary and expressions in context.
🍷 4. A Deliciously Scary Halloween: Food, Words & Fun
Halloween is also a creative excuse to practice Italian through food. During October, our teachers love to organize small linguistic workshops around “scary” words, idioms, and flavors — where learning happens while tasting!
🕯️ Italian “Spooky Words” to Learn
- La strega – the witch 🧙♀️
- Il mostro – the monster 👹
- Il fantasma – the ghost 👻
- L’urlo – the scream 😱
- Il buio – the darkness 🌑
- Il coraggio – the courage 💪
Did you know? Many Italian “scary” words come directly from Latin:
spiritus → spirito (spirit), monstrum → mostro (monster).
Learning Italian is like uncovering the layers of European history — each word carries a story.
🕸️ 5. Milan’s Dark Elegance: Halloween with Style
While Halloween in New York means spectacular costumes and parties, in Milan it often takes on a more elegant twist. Think of candlelit dinners, dark-chic aperitivi, and sophisticated menus with pumpkin, truffles, and red wine. Many local restaurants host tasting events where flavors and stories intertwine.
Our students love these cultural outings — they’re a perfect chance to practice Italian outside the classroom, chatting with locals and discovering Milan’s warm yet mysterious side.
👉 Tip: if you’re in town in late October, visit Brera or Navigli after sunset. Between golden lights and long shadows, Milan becomes an open-air theatre — romantic and just a bit spooky.
🧙♀️ 6. Language, Legends & Lifestyle: Learning by Living
At Il Centro, we believe that learning Italian means living it — in everyday gestures, flavors, and stories.
That’s why we combine language courses with cultural activities such as food tastings, museum visits, and seasonal events like our Halloween walk through haunted Milan.
For example, during our October lessons, you might learn to describe a recipe, tell a legend, or express fear and surprise in Italian:
“Mi fa paura!” (It scares me!)
“Che brividi!” (So creepy!)
“Che bontà!” (How delicious!)
Through this balance of fun and learning, students connect not only with grammar but with Italy’s emotional language — the language of gestures, taste, and imagination.
🕯️ 7. A Toast to Autumn: Italian Flavors to Try
If you want to recreate an Italian-style Halloween dinner, here’s a simple menu to try at home:
- Starter: Pumpkin cream with rosemary and toasted almonds
- Main course: Saffron risotto with pumpkin and sage butter
- Dessert: “Pane dei morti” or almond “ossa dei morti” biscuits
- Drink: A glass of Nebbiolo or Chianti to warm up the evening 🍷
Play some Italian jazz, light a candle, and say “Buon Halloween!” the Italian way — with elegance, taste, and a pinch of mystery.
🎃 8. Learn Italian This Autumn with Il Centro
Autumn is one of the best seasons to study Italian in Milan. The city is alive with cultural events, cozy cafés, and festive energy — and our Long-Term Visa Courses allow you to stay for several months and fully immerse yourself in the language.
Whether you’re a beginner or preparing for a student visa, we’ll help you reach your goals and experience Italian life in its most authentic form. Immersive courses for all levels.
🎓 Join our international community of learners and discover why Milan is the perfect place to fall in love with Italian — even when the streets get a little spooky!
👻 Happy Halloween from all of us at Il Centro – Italian Language School for Foreigners in Milan! 🎃