Easter in Sicily – La pasquetta
La Pasquetta is a springtime tradition turned national Italian holiday that takes place the Monday following Easter Sunday. While the days before Easter include solemn processions and Easter is a joyous celebration spent with family, Pasquetta is spent with friends, celebrating the beginning of spring with a party outdoors. This could be a barbeque at the beach, or a picnic in the countryside or city parks.
After the Trapani processions, my wife and I have spent several days in Palermo where we were surprised to see that in most of the places, people invited us to taste from the culinary specialties that they were making on their barbecue. On a hidden street behind the Vucceria market, a group of youngsters arranged the table right next to the mopeds parking place. Near the house’s entrance they improvised a karaoke studio where each family member showed their talent. At first, we only stayed to have a glass of wine, but in the end we stayed throughout the whole party.
On Monday we went to Termini Imerese – a picturesque town only half an hour from Palermo. The whole staying for dinner, singing, dancing scheme got repeated again. Here, the party’s “headquarters” was on an entire street where the central characters were all related. The table and the barbecue were arranged at the end of the street, the acoustic gear were a bit rudimentary, but the mixer and the microphone were mandatory. Luca, Mariano, Santina and Gaia were the singers. Franco – the head of the family, Rosa – his wife and Enza – the sister, all prepared the sausages, stiglioli, carcioffi, pizza, roasts, sponge cake and an incredible salad. My wife befriended Asunta and her cousin Santina and they danced and made “selfies” all afternoon. In the evening, Asunta took us in her car and we went to the railway station so we could catch the last train, but not before everyone gathered at the back of the street to say goodbye. With Italy’s anthem on the background, they gave us a beautiful goodbye.
Easter in Sicily – La pasquetta
La Pasquetta is a springtime tradition turned national Italian holiday that takes place the Monday following Easter Sunday. While the days before Easter include solemn processions and Easter is a joyous celebration spent with family, Pasquetta is spent with friends, celebrating the beginning of spring with a party outdoors. This could be a barbeque at the beach, or a picnic in the countryside or city parks.
After the Trapani processions, my wife and I have spent several days in Palermo where we were surprised to see that in most of the places, people invited us to taste from the culinary specialties that they were making on their barbecue. On a hidden street behind the Vucceria market, a group of youngsters arranged the table right next to the mopeds parking place. Near the house’s entrance they improvised a karaoke studio where each family member showed their talent. At first, we only stayed to have a glass of wine, but in the end we stayed throughout the whole party.
On Monday we went to Termini Imerese – a picturesque town only half an hour from Palermo. The whole staying for dinner, singing, dancing scheme got repeated again. Here, the party’s “headquarters” was on an entire street where the central characters were all related. The table and the barbecue were arranged at the end of the street, the acoustic gear were a bit rudimentary, but the mixer and the microphone were mandatory. Luca, Mariano, Santina and Gaia were the singers. Franco – the head of the family, Rosa – his wife and Enza – the sister, all prepared the sausages, stiglioli, carcioffi, pizza, roasts, sponge cake and an incredible salad. My wife befriended Asunta and her cousin Santina and they danced and made “selfies” all afternoon. In the evening, Asunta took us in her car and we went to the railway station so we could catch the last train, but not before everyone gathered at the back of the street to say goodbye. With Italy’s anthem on the background, they gave us a beautiful goodbye.
