Easter festivity

Easter in Ischia
“Pleased to meet EU” Comenius project
I.C. “V. Mennella”- Lacco Ameno - Italy

Easter
The word Easter comes from the latin word “Pascha” and from ebraico
“Pasah”. It means “Passaggio”, passage, transit, transfer. Easter is one of
the most important festivity in the Christian tradition. Like in the
Orthodox tradition, it celebrates the passage from death to resurrection
of Jesus . While the Jewish Easter celebrates the passage from slavery in
Egypt to the liberation of the Jews with Moses.

The date of Easter
The date of Easter is different every year and it is on the
Sunday following the first full moon after the spring
equinox (March 21st). Therefore Easter could be the
day from 22nd March to 25th April.

Easter liturgical ritual
Easter is preceded by Lent, a period of 40 days of fasting and abstinence, which follows the
Carnival celebrations. The week before Easter is called "Holy Week" and it is marked by
special liturgies.

Palm Sunday
The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday.
The blessing of the palms and olive branches
commemorate the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem
among in the crowd waving palm branches.

Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday there is the washing of
the feet. It is in memory of the gesture
made by Jesus at the Last Supper.

Good Friday
Good Friday is dedicated to the celebration of
the “Via Crucis”. It goes through the stages of the
climb to Calvary of Christ.

Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is the day in which no
Mass is celebrated and no Communion
is given.

Easter Traditions
Easter, over time, has been enriched by customs. In
particular the custom to give chocolate eggs as
presents dates back to ancient rites. The ancient
Persians and Greeks gave eggs as presents in spring
(symbol of the awakening of nature)

The “Race of the Angel”
in Lacco Ameno

The race of the Angel is a sacred representation. It takes place in Lacco Ameno on Easter
Sunday. The race has ancient roots and it’s a show which involves the audience, taking them
into a strong and exciting dimension to spiritual depth.
The show takes place among the chants of the crowd.

The “race of the angel” is very old and dates back to about 1600

Lacco Ameno is definitely one of the municipalities of the island where folk traditions
have their own particular charm.
The "race of the Angel" takes place in Saint Restituta square every Easter and it wants
to play the meeting of the Madonna and her child rose from the dead.
During this race people live various moments with intense emotion. Mystical reason
and pagan motifs rich in superstition and legend mix together.

A procession formed by a small parade, the banner and the blue plume of white ostrich
feathers, the cross of the Brotherhood, the statue of the Angel. The statue of the
Madonna, the clergy and the statue of the Risen Christ leaves on Easter morning from
church of the Assumption and arrives in the square. At the end of the celebration of the
solemn Mass begins the delightful representation.
A small stage is set up in front of the Municipality palace and it’s recreated the tomb
where the body of Jesus was laid. The local boys interpret the Roman soldiers guarding
the tomb.

So the representation begins and statues of St Mary Magdalene and the Virgin Mary
(carried on the shoulders of the believers) go to the tomb to accommodate the remains
of Jesus. There they discover that the tomb is empty and return back to the apostles to
warn them of the disappearance of the body. Meantime the angel leaves to make the
announcement of the resurrection and for three times it runs to the tomb. It does three
obeisances each time he runs.
During the angel’s race the tinkling of the bells tied to his hand is peculiar . Suddenly a
roar breaks the air, the soldiers fall to the ground and the rock which closes the tomb
moves up showing the statue of the risen Christ. Then a flock of doves is released into
the sky accompanied by fireworks and the sound of the bells of the nearby Basilica of
Santa Restituta.

After the representation all the statues,
carried on the shoulders of the believers,
accompanied by a procession, are reported
in the churches where they are kept.
It’s a very old show and lots of people plan
to see it every year.
Some days earlier people who carry the
statues have various tests to synchronize the
movements during the run of the angel.
It is a show deeply felt by the inhabitants of
Lacco Ameno and it is attractive for the
tourists who really enjoy to see it. All
viewers see it either in the sun or in the rain.

Here are the statues they take part in the “race of the angel”

St.
M
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i
a
M
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a
l
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a

The
M
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o
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n
a

R
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n
C
h
r
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s
t

St.
J
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n

The
A
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Food at Easter in Ischia
Easter on the island Ischia is different from other religious and pagan traditions in Europe.
Easter is one of the most popular festivals on the island for the plenty of food.

Easter recipes in Ischia
The Neapolitan gastronomy has certainly been influenced by various peoples
(Phoenicians, Greeks and Arabs). The first Neapolitan recipe dates back to 1765.
In 1884, in Ischia, people began to cook new dishes and then they became part of the
traditions.

Lunch at Easter
Starter
Among the various starters there is the “casatiello”. It is bread with salt and pepper.
It’s garnished with eggs and shell. It can be either rustic or sweet.
Ingredients:
Flour 600 g., Lard 225 g., Yeast 50 g., Salt, Pepper, 6 eggs with shell, Roman cheese (2 spoons),
Parmesan cheese (2 spoons)

Other Starters
Pizza with escarole
Fried pizza stuffed with ricotta and salami, pizza escarole (vegetables),
widespread throughout southern Italy
Ingredients :
Flour 500 g., yeast 25 g., lard 150 g., salt and pepper, warm water, escarole 1 kg , garlic (1 glove),
cappers 50 g., black olives 100 g., anchovies 100 g., pepper.

Baked Lamb
Ingredients:
Lamb 2kg , lard 60 g., olive oil 60 ml, , garlic (1 glove), rosemary, potatoes 1 kg.

”Pastiera” (corn cake)
During Holy Week, and especially from Thursday or Friday, kitchens in Lacco Ameno
and in Ischia elate with their perfumes those who wish to enjoy a delicacy from the
ancient tradition: the “pastiera”. It is a cake prepared just before Easter to bring out
the goodness and from the first tasting it amazes with emotions, bringing forth
memories of when, as children, they anxiously awaited the approach of Easter, in a
festive atmosphere of joy. The rich taste, full-bodied and definite, is given by the
grain mixed with ricotta cheese, cream, candied fruit, and with the aftertaste of the
orange blossoms aroma, in a harmony of flavors that make unforgettable lunches
with relatives and friends, chatting, laughing, with chocolate eggs and a possible glass
of the delicious “Limoncello”.

Red Eggs
Probably this custom has its roots in the early domination of the island Ischia by settlers
coming from the peninsula of Eubea in Greece. They were the first settlers in Pithecusa
(ancient name of the island Ischia). In fact, still in the Balkan tradition and Greek orthodox
hard-boiled eggs are colored red and you can eat them at the Easter dinner and in the
following days, too. This simple custom of coloring eggs attests how many traditions can still
talk to the people heart from generation to generation.

This activity has been done by the students (lower
secondary school) of the Istituto Comprensivo Statale
‘’Vincenzo Mennella,” Lacco Ameno , Italia.
(May 2013)

Easter festivity

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