April is always an important month in the Italian calendar with the arrival of Easter celebrations. It is one of the holiest holidays in Italy, and celebrations to mark the event start this week leading up to Easter Sunday. (The Holy Father left the Gemelli Polyclinic on Saturday where he was hospitalised with a pulmonary infection and difficulty breathing)
During holy week across towns and cities country-wide, you’ll see numerous religious processions, including the Via Crucis, or Stations of the Cross, and on Easter Sunday, families gather for a meal, with lamb being the most popular choice. Many towns also hold outdoor festivals with music, dancing, and traditional Easter treats such as Colomba, a dove-shaped cake.
Another tradition is the incredible spectacle, “Scoppio del Carro” or Explosion of the Cart, which takes place in Florence, where a cart filled with fireworks is set alight in front of the Duomo. It is quite a remarkable sight and if you happen to be near over the Easter period I would wholeheartedly recommend visiting!
Easter in Italy is a time for reflection, family, and joyous celebration.
I will be in the UK this Easter but am looking forward to spending precious time with my family, alongside enjoying a few delicious Easter eggs, of course!
How will you be celebrating Easter this year?