By Margo Sorenson
Fluffy Easter bunnies? Peeps? Easter egg hunts? Fancy Easter bonnets? What?
Growing up in Napoli and Bari, my Easters were definitely not the same as those of other American kids, even though my parents were Americans. When we moved to the U.S. from Italy, I was shocked at the differences between Italian Easter celebrations and American celebrations.
I was fortunate to grow up in Southern Italy, in the Neapolitan and Pugliese regions, where, for centuries, tradition and faith have been intertwined seamlessly in the culture. The days leading up to Easter are filled with solemn processions and masses, testimony to Italians’ deep reverence for their Catholic faith. In Italian, Easter is “Pasqua,” and it is a joyous celebration, marked with meaningful rituals and timeless traditions, some dating back even to the thirteenth century.
For the whole month before Easter, many sacred religious processions are held everywhere in Italian cities and towns, always during Holy Week, the “Settimana Santa,” and on the Friday and Saturday before Easter, as well as on Easter Sunday. Many churches have special statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus that are paraded through the town or city and displayed in the main squares. I saw these processions as a normal part of life—the statues of Jesus and the Virgin Mary carried through both ancient cobblestone and modern paved streets, swaying to the rhythm of their bearers. Participants are often dressed in traditional ancient costumes, adding to the solemnity of the occasion. One of the processions takes place in San Marco di Lamis, north of my hometown of Bari, during which dozens of people parade in costume, with horses and flaming torches to celebrate the Living Passion of Christ. To give you an idea of the solemnity and deep reverence of these processions, click here to view a video of that procession.
I had no idea that nothing like this happened in the U.S. When I finally came here to what is my “passport country,” I discovered that very few Easter week processions took place, unless they were in Italian-American communities. The only parades were Easter parades with giant balloons and bunny-costumed marchers—hardly sacred processions!
Of course, we know there is no celebration in Italy without food, and Easter is no exception. Elaborate feasts are devoured on Easter—lamb, asparagus, and other spring delicacies. When my family lived in Napoli, there was never an Easter dinner without la pastiera napoletana—a “pie” made with ricotta, orange, sugar, eggs, and cooked wheat.
An Italian favorite saying is “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi”—”Christmas with family, Easter with friends.” Note the use of familiar plural forms, “tuoi” and “vuoi,” not the formal “Lei” and “Loro.” What is fun about the Italian language (well, what isn’t fun? 😉) is that there are so many subtle layers of meaning, depending on which pronoun form is used. La Pasquetta, (“little Easter”), the Monday after Easter Sunday, is a public holiday almost everywhere throughout the country. Guests bring something to share at outdoor picnics. Eggs, symbolizing rebirth are featured, from fritattas to hard-boiled eggs to quiches—and stories and warm laughter fill the air.
You can certainly imagine my surprise upon moving to the United States to discover that Easter was such an entirely different celebration. Of course, I do miss not only the Italian pageantry but also the pervasive, national reverence for the deeper meaning of Easter. Buona Pasqua!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Author of over thirty traditionally-published books for young readers, Margo Sorenson spent the first seven years of her life in Spain and Italy, devouring books and Italian food and still speaks (or tries!) her childhood languages. Her most recent Adult/Young Adult novel, SECRETS IN TRANSLATION (Fitzroy Books, October 2018), takes place in Positano, with heroine Alessandra, whose being able to speak Italian helps her to feel at home in Italy, once again—and solve a mystery that threatens those she loves. Of course, it would make a great Easter gift for adults and teens alike! For more information on ordering these and Margo’s other books, please visit www.margosorenson.com