Easter in Abruzzo in a simple snapshot: exploring its ceremonies and processions over the revered holy weekend and recipes eaten locally to welcome spring and take on the first picnic of the year.
CEREMONIES
La Processione del Venerdi Santo, Chieti (Good Friday)
Read more – Chieti’s Good Friday’s Procession – La Processione del Venerdì Santo
La Madonna Che Scappa, Sulmona, Easter Sunday
Read more – Hope Spring Maternal – Sulmona’s La Madonna che Scappa
Interesting Photo Journals
Pier Luigi Fabrizio records the Ortona Good Friday procession, which is entrusted, managed and supervised traditionally by females and looks at the focus in the preparation of the event from family to family, from woman to woman, from mother to daughter.
FOOD & RECIPES
Fiadoni
Recipe for Fiadoni – Fee-fi-fo-fum – I Smell A Gorgeous Cheese Pastry
Easter Lamb
Recipe for Easter Agnello Cacio e Ovo from Santo Stefano di Sessanio
La Pupa e il Cavallo Biscuits
They were traditionally baked by Nonna on Good Friday to give to her grandchildren as a present although many a Mamma made them too. The horses were given to boys and the girls were given doll-shaped ones, some people also make hearts, boats, and baby geese but collectively they are known as ‘la pupa e il cavallo’.
The eggs they contain would have been blessed and also would be a symbol of fertility. They were also exchanged between a newly engaged couple as gifts, and there has been an interpretation of them being an informal breaking of bread and sharing ceremony for kids hence their large size.
Author: Sam Dunham
Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 12 and juggles her work as a self-employed freelance SEO food and travel copywriter and EFL teacher. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo. she is the founder of the 'English in the Woods' initiative, teaching English outdoors in a forest style school.
The Chieti procession is very moving, the music pulls at heart strings. Did you see the link included in the post to Pierlugi’s beautiful photo journal of the Ortona one? Unusually it’s organised and led by women and quite different, – here’s a video snapshot https://www.facebook.com/fabrizia.arduini/videos/vb.1327538757/10209279253001503/?type=2&theater
it’s just that the hoods over their heads look too much like the Klu Klux Klan!
Renee Diluigi-Holme lol, they’ve spoilt it for hood wearers everywhere!
Easter in Abruzzo as I remember – http://casa-giardino.blogspot.com/2011/04/easter-many-years-ago.html
Why are they dressed like the Klu Klux Klan?!! :O
They’re penitents, their costumes let you know which brotherhood they belong to whilst making them anonymous. They pay penance on Good Friday as they accompany the ‘body’ of Christ round the streets .