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Italian Easter Events
Wondering which part
of Italy to visit at Easter...a quick guide to some Easter
celebrations around Italy...
Easter in Italy
Rome
The weeks around
Easter are some of
the busiest in
Rome as the city comes alive for the most important week
of the Catholic Calendar.
The events begin in St Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday with
the blessing of the palms and public Mass. On the morning of
Maundy Thursday, the Pope presides over morning Mass in the
Vatican Basilica. The better known “Mass of the Lord’s
Supper” takes place later in the evening when the Pope
symbolically washes the feet of 12 priests. The highlight of
Good Friday is the Pope’s “Via Crucis” procession from the
Colosseum up Monte Palatino. The stations of the cross are
described in several languages for the benefit of the many
onlookers and a huge cross with burning torches lights up
the sky.
But it is Easter Sunday which is perhaps the busiest day
when St Peter’s Square is crammed with visitors, awaiting
the public Mass in the morning followed by the Pope’s Easter
address and blessing. The conclusion of the benediction is
announced by the bells of St Peter’s which are immediately
answered by the cannons at the Castle of St Angelo.
The day after Easter is known as the “Pasquetta” or Little
Easter and it is now that the celebrations truly begin. Many
Romans head out of the city with their families to enjoy
picnics in the surrounding countryside and towns around the
country hold dances, fairs and concerts.
Florence
For over 300 years, Florence has celebrated Easter with the
“Scoppio del Carro” or exploding cart. A huge, elaborate
cart is pulled through the streets by white oxen, strewn
with
flowers until it
reaches the Basilica di Santa Maria in the historic heart of
the city. A steel wire connects the cart to the High Alter
within the cathedral and, following Mass, the Archbishop
sends a dove-shaped rocket down the wire into the cart,
igniting the hidden fireworks. This is then followed by a
lively costumed parade.
Sicily
Easter in
Sicilly (or “Sa Pasca Manna”) is the most important
festival of the year One of the most impressive processions
in Sicily takes place in Castelsardo on Easter Monday. The
town’s lights are switched off and the procession,called
Lunissanti, winds its way through the town from St Mary’s
church, illuminated only by torches. Other Easter
processions take place in Castelsardo on Holy Thursday and
Good Friday.
Catenanuova holds an annual Easter Festival (30th March to
8th April 2007) with processions, street entertainment and
attractions for all the family.
Sardinia
In
Cagliari there are processions and ceremonies both in
the local churches and in the surrounding streets throughout
the Easter week.
In Oliena on Easter Sunday, residents line the streets to
celebrate ‘S’Incontru at the moment when two separate
processions - one carrying the Virgin Mary and the other a
statue of Christ - meet.
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