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By Peter Hale
The weekends around the Easter are the busiest times in Rome as this city comes alive for the most crucial week in the calendar of Roman Catholics.
The events start in St Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday with the blessings of the public Mass and palms. On the morning of Thursday, the Pope preaches the morning Mass in Vatican Basilica. The best known “Mass of the Lord’s Supper” takes place later in that evening where the Pope washes the feet of the 12 priests symbolically. The highlight of Good Friday is the “Via Crucis” procession of the Pope from Colosseum up Monte Palatino. The cross stations are detailed in various languages for the benefit of the many onlookers and the huge cross along with the burning torches lights the sky.
But it is Easter Sunday which is perhaps the busiest day when St Peter’s Square is packed with visitors, waiting for the public Mass in the morning followed by the Easter blessing and address by the Pope. The conclusion of that benediction is declared by the bells of St Peter’s which are quickly answered by cannons at the Castle of St Angelo.
The day after Easter is called “Pasquetta” or the Little Easter and it’s where the celebrations actually begin. A number of Catholics head to the outskirts of the city along with their people to enjoy picnics in the surrounding towns and countryside and everywhere else around the country concerts, fairs and dances are held.
Florence
For more than 300 years, Florence has enjoyed Easter with the exploding cart or “Scoppio del Carro”. A elaborate, huge cart is dragged through the streets by white oxen, strewn with flowers until they reach the Basilica di Santa Maria in the historic centre of the city. One steel wire links the cart to a High Alter present within the cathedral and, accompanying the Mass, the Archbishop sends a rocket designed in the shape of a dove down a wire into the cart, igniting fireworks hidden within it. This is followed by a lively costumed parade.
Siciliy
Easter in Sicilly (or the “Sa Pasca Manna”) is the most crucial festival of the year. One of the most awesome processions in Sicily takes place in the Castelsardo on the Easter Monday. The lights in the town are put off and this procession, called the Lunissanti, winds its way through this town from St Mary’s church, lit up only by torches. The other processions of Easter take place in the Castelsardo on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
Catenanuova holds the annual Festival for Easter (30th of the March to 8th of the April 2008) with attractions, street entertainment and processions for all the family.
Sardinia
In Cagliari there are ceremonies and processions both in the surrounding streets and local churches all through the Easter week.
In Oliena on Easter Sunday, the residents line the streets to enjoy the ‘S’Incontru at a moment when the two individual processions – one carrying a statue of Christ, meet with the other carrying the Virgin Mary.
Go to Rome over Easter and enjoy a remarkable European cultural break.
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Source:
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