Throughout Italy, Easter week is filled with religious and cultural traditions. Each town has its long-held ceremonies, and Cortona is no exception. Children who held their grandparents’ hands as they were first introduced to the Good Friday procession now carry those same heavy and beautifully crafted statues through the streets of town as their own children watch in awe.
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The solemnity of Friday evening fades Saturday morning as people gather along the streets and in the markets to shop for their Easter meal. Friends are greeted with Buona Pasqua and the double cheek kiss as they exchange pleasantries and best wishes while shopping.
One dessert staple is the Colomba di Pasqua, a traditional Italian Easter cake, which comes in various sizes and a few flavors, but is always shaped like a dove.
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On Easter Sunday, although most cook and eat at home with family, there are also many restaurants offering multi-course traditional meals.
And then comes La Pasquetta, Easter Monday, or Little Easter. This is a national holiday when families pack up Easter leftovers, head to parks or beaches for picnics, or stroll around towns like Cortona. And stroll they do. I always need to remind myself to slow down on these days.
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La Pasquetta is a time for relaxation, and a midday Aperol Spritz seems to be the colorful beverage of choice for many.
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Amid the crowds and festivities, we always manage to find time for quiet walks, alone or with friends, taking in some views that newly trimmed trees now offer,
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as well as the magnificent signs of spring.
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And then, of course, there are the sunsets, with or without aperitivo, no description needed.
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Happy Easter, Passover, and Spring!
Ciao
Judy
Blogging In Italy 