What is a customary gift in the event of a death in Italy

[mdvukas]

My family has gotten word that a distant relative has passed that lives in Italy. What is a customary gift that should be sent?

[liviomoreno]

As far as I know, in Italy we do net send gifts when somebody dies. You may send flowers for the funeral...

[mdvukas]

I was going to send a monetary gift but do not want to offend them. Funeral is already over.

Thank you for the info.

[Italysearcher]

November 2nd is the Day of the Dead and is BIG in Italy. It would be appropriate to send flowers for the tomb or offer to pay for the tomb lights for the next year.

[liviomoreno]

I continue to think that offering money is not appropriate.

[jennabet]

November 2nd is the Day of the Dead and is BIG in Italy. It would be appropriate to send flowers for the tomb or offer to pay for the tomb lights for the next year.

This is not correct. The big holiday in Italy is celebrated on All Soul's Day, November 1. It's also a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Church.

[jennabet]

I was going to send a monetary gift but do not want to offend them. Funeral is already over.

Thank you for the info.

In this case, a sympathy card would be sufficient. If you were present in Italy, you would bring a home-made dish or sweet of some sort or a pack or two of good Italian coffee.

[Italysearcher]

All Souls is November 1st and a holiday, but November 2nd is All Souls and just about everybody goes to the cemetery that day. A mass is usually said right in the cemetery. Makes a nice long weekend this year and I know several of our relatives will be making the trek back to their town of origin to pay their respects to their deceased loved ones.

[PippoM]

November 1st is All Saints...

[Italysearcher]

Thanks Pippo, all these Saints and Souls combined with the Italians new-found fascination with Halloween (of which I am considered the expert around here) is making me forgetful.