November has long been known as the "Month of the Dead" because, in the Christian liturgical calendar, this month is entirely dedicated to the deceased. The practice of dedicating a day or period to the remembrance of the dead has ancient origins, both in the Christian world and in traditions that venerated ancestors.
The autumn-winter season, when days grow shorter and nature “turns to rest,” has symbolically encouraged reflection on death, the afterlife, and the permanence of memory. The belief that the living should pray for the dead was established in the early centuries of Christianity, when prayers and masses were offered for the departed. The idea of dedicating a day to the memory of all the dead originated in the 10th century. In 988, Odilon, the fifth abbot of Cluny, established the feast of the Commemoration of the Dead on November 2nd, the day after All Saints' Day, in all the monasteries of his congregation.
This devotion was approved by Pope Leo IX in 1049 and adopted by the Church in 1274, following the Council of Lyons. The profound meaning of this feast lies in the connection between the living and the dead, and in the Church’s prayers for the purification of the departed. All cultures and religions have held celebrations associated with death. The Etruscans believed that the dead would sit with their families to attend the funeral feast.
In ancient Rome, from February 13th to 21st, families honored their deceased during the dies Parentales by placing food on their graves, including spelt flour, salt, and bread soaked in wine. Flowers were also placed on the tomb. The Romans believed that the dead continued to exist and protected their families if they were honored. If they were forgotten, however, they could become restless spirits. Therefore, honoring them was a way to maintain harmony between the living and the dead.
The Celts celebrated Samhain,, a festival dedicated to the dead, who were believed to return to their earthly homes on the night between October 31st and November 1st. These people believed that on that night, the boundary between the living and the dead worlds would become thin, allowing spirits to return to Earth.
To protect themselves and honor the dead, they lit bonfires, wore masks, and left food offerings. Samhain was therefore a time of transition, a time to remember the dead, and a purification to prepare for winter. When Christianity spread across Europe, the Church didn’t completely abolish pagan festivals; instead, it often adapted them.
The eve of November 1st was known as All Hallows' Eve, which eventually became Halloween. Today, Halloween is widely celebrated even in non-Anglo-Saxon countries. The dead are said to rise from their graves and roam the streets carrying a Halloween lantern, a fire believed to hold the soul of the deceased. Ultimately, it’s a new way to remember those who are no longer with us. The origins of Halloween are truly fascinating, as they combine ancient pagan rites, Celtic folk traditions, and medieval Christian adaptations.
It is difficult to attribute the origins of the Day of the Dead to a single tradition, but the Catholic celebration undoubtedly has very ancient roots and follows pagan rites. All Souls' Day is celebrated in various ways around the world, and Italy is no exception. This holiday is celebrated with traditions that vary from region to region. In Verona, a dish known as the "piatto dei morti" (literally, "dish of the dead") was traditionally prepared with foods like sweets, chestnuts, and sweet potatoes.
The dish of the day was broad beans. Some towns in the province of Verona still uphold the tradition. Eating broad beans during the Day of the Dead is an ancient tradition. Beans are eaten for the dead because, since ancient times, they have been considered the food of souls and a symbol of rebirth after death.
In ancient Mediterranean religions, particularly Roman and Greek, broad beans were considered sacred to the gods of the underworld and were associated with the souls of the dead. The broad bean was seen as a bridge between life and death, a symbol of nature’s eternal cycle. Fava beans have been found as funerary offerings in many ancient Etruscan, Greek, and Roman tombs.
This tradition also gave rise to the sweet treats known as "fave dei morti", biscuits made with almonds, sugar, and eggs, reminiscent of ancient offerings.
