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Abruzzo: A Feast for the Senses 13-day tour from 29 Aug - 10 Sept 2012

Experience Abruzzo's authentic culture, traditions & festivals, gastronomic delights, heritage & unspoilt beauty

Easter and its symbols

Traditional Easter symbols: 'Colomba' cake and chocolate egg

There is an Italian saying:" Natale con i tuoi, e Pasqua con chi vuoi" (Christmas with your family and Easter with whom you want).

Why this may make sense, is that as Italians celebrate Christmas among the winter chills, they prefer spending time indoors with family and friends. Easter, on the other hand, is celebrated in Spring when the weather is warmer and they prefer to venture outdoors to enjoy nature when it is starting to burst into life.

Easter and its solemn religious traditions are widely celebrated all over Italy--and both in the North and South the nation takes part in over 3,000 live events, including:

Good Friday reenactment of the "Via Crucis" (way of the Cross) and other sacred representations
processions
religious rites
popular feasts
food festivals
folkloric traditions

On a commercial level, and like many other Christians worldwide, Italians have adopted traditional symbols easily recognisable and widely available in shops all over the country and the world: one easily recognisable item is the Easter egg.

Our Easter table will also include....

Amaretti

Cantucci (normally dunked in 'Vin Santo')

Castagne (Chestnuts)

An open fire and roasted chestnuts....reminiscing family, the aroma and taste!

Roasted chestnuts enjoyed in the winter months in Rome

And the unmistakable....

Uova di Pasqua (Easer Egg)

Tags: Easter, Italy

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Comment by Liana on May 2, 2011 at 11:50: Marianna, A chimera is one of those outdoor wood heaters (of Mexican origins I believe) that people have in their courtyards etc. Ours is in the carport - for storage reasons.

Ciao

Comment by Marianna on April 30, 2011 at 9:36: Liana - che vuol dire "chimera"?

Comment by Liana on April 27, 2011 at 12:21: A chestnut night - What a great idea!!! We have a chimera - could that work?

Comment by Marianna on April 26, 2011 at 17:38: Thanks Liana - must arrange a chestnut roasting and eating night!

Comment by Liana on April 26, 2011 at 13:19: I love Chestnuts - one of my favourite things to eat in cold weather.

Grazie Marianna for the lovely post on Easter.

Liana