Arcadia Italy

Pasqua

Pasqua or Easter is one of the biggest holidays on the Italian calendar. You will see colorful displays of chocolate eggs and bunnies in the shops. It is a time of religious parades and celebrations, and often the focus is a statue of Jesus or the Virgin Mary that gets carried through the city streets.

If you happen to be in Rome today, Good Friday, do not miss the mystical atmosphere around the Colosseum. The via Crucis procession draws thousands of pilgrims who come to the Italian capital for the Holy week ceremonies.

Our students also may have noticed the announcement for the Benedizione Pasquale posted at the entrance of their building. Before the Holy Sunday a local parish priest goes from door to door and performs a simple ceremony to bless the house and its occupants. A house blessing is done to cleanse the house from evils, that is why all Italians and Romans keep their houses very clean particularly during the holy period.

There is a common phrase in Italian that says: “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi” (Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want). Despite this saying Easter Sunday is usually spent with family.

The main meal is the colazione pasquale during which, Romans use to have the equivalent of an American brunch. Traditional foods include boiled eggs, asparagus, salted cake with cheese and Corallina (salame) also called Torta Pasquale, the Colomba which is a special sweet bread made in the shape of a dove and of course chocolate Eggs with a special prize inside. While the abbacchio alla romana (Roman-style Suckling Lamb) is the traditional second course of the Easter lunch.

Vatican Ceremonies and english-language religious services in rome

14 April - Good Friday: Papal Mass, Vatican Basilica 5pm; Way of the Cross, Colosseum 9:15pm.
15 April - Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil, Vatican Basilica 8:30pm.
16 April - Easter Sunday: Mass, St Peter's Square 10:15am. "Urbi et Orbi" blessing 12:00pm.

For Easter Church Services In English check out this website.

Passover in Rome

The Jewish community in Rome celebrates Passover and the Italian Jews have created their own style and traditions of cooking, highly influenced by the Roman cuisine.

A typical Roman menu for Passover would start off with starters like Haroset all’italiana, a paste-like mixture of ground dates, oranges, raisins and figs; carciofi alla romana; carpione, cubes of fried white fish marinated in an herb vinaigrette with caramelized onions; and stracciatella, an egg-drop soup. The main course of the Italian Seder boasts of tortino di azzine, matzoh lasagna made from vegetables and lamb that is accompanied with insalata alla Sefardita, a salad of romaine, dill and green onions with red wine vinaigrette.

The desserts usually include ricciarelli di Siena which are rich almond-paste cookies rolled up in powdered sugar.

PASQUETTA – EASTER MONDAY

Pasquetta is entirely about spending time with friends! The tradition is to organize a BBQ or pack a big picnic and go with a big group of friends in one of the parks in Rome or in the surroundings to enjoy the spring.

Here are a few hints about parks you could visit if you are staying in Rome.

Villa Doria Pamphilj is a beautiful public park and the biggest in Rome; it is situated in Monteverde, near Gianicolo area.

Villa Celimontana is situated on the summit of the Celio hill and the monumental entrance is in Via della Navicella, near one of the first Christian church, Santa Maria in Damnica.

Villa Ada is a big public park of Rome and is located on the northeastern part of the city, on the Salaria Street.

Parco della Caffarella is situated between Aurelian Walls, Latina Street and the Appian Way.

Happy Passover, Happy Easter and enjoy Pasquetta!