Celebrating Halloween: My Transformation from Italy to the UK

Thirty Years Ago

I’m Italian, and the first time I ever celebrated Halloween was about thirty years ago. Back then, in Italy—a country so deeply rooted in Catholic traditions—Halloween was something unusual, even a bit controversial. My friends honestly thought I was crazy for being the only one who decided to throw a big Halloween party!

At the time, many people saw Halloween as something dark or inappropriate, but I saw it in a completely different way. For me, it was a celebration of change—the natural shift from the warmth and light of summer to the colder, darker days of winter.

Where It All Comes From

Halloween actually goes way back—over 2,000 years—to the Celtic festival of Samhain. It marked the end of the harvest and the start of winter. The Celts believed that on October 31st, the veil between the world of the living and the dead became thinner, allowing spirits to pass through. To keep themselves safe, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to scare the ghosts away.

Later, these ancient traditions mixed with Christian ones, and October 31st became All Hallows’ Eve—the night before All Saints’ Day.

I still remember that first Halloween party so clearly. I spent hours cutting out paper bats, pumpkins, and cats, and decorating every corner of my house with my handmade creations. It was a labour of love—driven by excitement, not superstition. Hanging those decorations gave me a wonderful feeling of anticipation for the darker months ahead. It was my own way of welcoming the change of season.

Halloween Today

Now that I’ve been living in the UK for a while, I can see how much Halloween has grown and how loved it is here. It feels completely normal and part of everyday life—especially for younger generations. Just like in the USA, children dress up in costumes and go door-to-door asking for “trick or treat,” often with their parents keeping a watchful eye. It creates a lovely sense of community and fun that I never experienced growing up in Italy.

The enthusiasm for decorating here is amazing! Shops and websites are full of creative props—some spooky, some funny, some just beautiful. This year, I decided to use that inspiration for my own little art project in my front garden. I combined artificial spider webs, an old bicycle, silk flowers, and bright red leaves to make a one-of-a-kind Halloween scene. It’s been such a joy to watch people stop, smile, and take it all in.

For me, Halloween has become so much more than superstition or misunderstanding. It’s now a celebration of creativity, change, and community spirit—a chance to welcome the darkness of winter with light, colour, and playfulness. It’s no longer a “foreign” holiday for me, but a tradition that feels close to my heart and gives me space to express myself artistically.

As Halloween continues to grow and evolve here in the UK, blending old customs with new ideas, I’m excited to keep celebrating it in ways that are both meaningful and full of joy.

Thanks so much for reading 💫
http://www.lauraartist68.uk