POZZUOLI — The American holiday of Halloween is gaining enormous popularity in Italy.

Maybe it’s because the typically laid-back, easy-going and always-looking-for-a-good-time Italians have sought out yet another opportunity for a festa, mused one shop owner who has decorated her shop window with ghouls and goblins and more.

"It’s becoming more and more popular here, with Italians celebrating with some costumes and decorations," said Antonella Tina, who owns the Mondo del Gadget shop in downtown Pozzuoli. "But the children do not go door-to-door and ask for candy, like the children in America, unless they live in an area where there are many Americans living."

That’s where she first learned of Halloween, many moons ago, when she lived among U.S. servicemembers stationed in the Naples area.

It’s the younger generation who are fans of the Halloween traditions, not the old fogies.

"I love Halloween. It’s so much fun," said 15-year-old Sebastiano Luigi. "This year, we will all be getting dressed up and going dancing. I think more people should do it."

While there aren’t the trick-or-treaters (at least not yet, Tina predicted), Halloween gives Italians a chance to morph into someone — or something — else, a brief escape from reality and a chance to gather and party with family and friends.

And though children don’t trick-or-treat, more and more schools are throwing Halloween parties where students dress up for in-school parties, Tina said.

But don’t be fooled into thinking that celebrating the holiday is solely for the festivities and revelry, said Luigi Daniele, who runs a produce stand in Pozzuoli.

Welcome capitalism.

"It’s also a chance for us to market and make extra money," he said.

For example, a few years ago, he started importing particular orange gourds from France, which are round and hollow — perfect for carving, he said.

"I can sell them for three times more than other squash, but there are very good sellers," Daniele said.

And though the day is laced with controversy from religious authorities who frown on its observance, Italians don’t think of Halloween as a holy holiday, Daniele said.

"It’s not religious for us."

What ghouls, goblins sayThey’ll be dressed as goblins and goons, devils and angels, witches and fairies — but for Italian children, though clad in costumes and heading out to celebrate Halloween, their evening won’t include knocking on doors and asking for sweets.

Italians are embracing Halloween, which for them is a symbol of American pop culture. They do the makeup, the costumes, the parties. But what you won’t find are children out trick-or-treating.

But they do have a phrase for it — though it might have become part of their vernacular more for translation reasons that practical usage.

Still, to trick-or-treat, say:

Dolcetto o scherzetto

Phonetically: dohl-che-toe o sker-zeh-toe

Got a question about something you’ve seen or heard around Italy? E-mail us at: jontz@estripes.osd.mil or novakl@estripes.osd.mil.