Easter (or “Pasqua” as we call it in Italy), comes second only to Christmas. Passionate religious processions and moving services start from Holy Week (La Settimana Santa), which begins the Sunday (Palm Sunday) before Easter Sunday. Our celebrations don’t stop there; La Pasquetta (meaning “little Easter”) is a public holiday that falls on the Monday after Easter Sunday (Easter Monday) that sees special events and concerts put on across Italy’s cities and towns.

There’s a great Italian saying: “Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi,” which means “Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want”. We will always spend time with our family over Easter because no-one wants to miss nonna’s Sunday feast, but it’s also a time to enjoy with friends.

Great food sits at the heart of our celebrations. Throughout the Easter Weekend there’s a dish for every occasion. Here’s some insight into our favourite Easter occasions, rituals, and traditions that we hope will inspire you to inject pieces of authentic Italy into your own Easter feasts with loved ones. 

Lamb (which symbolises life) takes centre stage for Easter lunch alongside pasta, artichokes and dyed eggs - adding a beautiful splash of colour to the table. Each region prides itself on a different lamb dish, but if you’re looking to spend more time with your family than in the kitchen, we’ve got you covered with one of the most simple - polpettine pasquali (Easter meatballs). This is then rounded off with a popular traditional dove-shaped yeast cake called colomba di Pasqua.

When it comes to gifting, chocolate eggs (symbolising rebirth) are iconic and sometimes a foot high! These large hollow chocolate eggs contain hidden gifts; anything from surprise toys for children to costume jewellery for adults. We’re passionate romantics and so hiding an engagement ring inside a custom-made egg is becoming an increasingly popular tradition.

DISCOVER OUR POLPETTINE PASQUALI (EASTER MEATBALLS) RECIPE HERE

La Pasquetta (Easter Monday)

Pasquetta is when many of us choose to head away from the busy festivities of our towns and cities into the fresh air for long and relaxed al fresco picnics with our friends. Often our very first picnic of the year, we flood to parks, beaches, vineyards and our favourite countryside spots.

We lay out blankets and put up folding tables set with colourful flowers - savouring time away from the kitchen as we enjoy delicious Easter lunch leftovers like torta pasqualina (Easter pie), which is perfect served cold. The day is all about rest, relaxation and an opportunity to spend quality time outdoors as the wonders of Spring unfold and when a BIRRA MORETTI Zero really comes into its own.

Outside of delicious Easter lunch leftovers, we also enjoy traditional Pasquetta picnic foods. These include hard boiled, or coloured eggs baked in a mouth-watering Italian Easter bread alongside baked frittata, a crust-less quiche served cold. Delicious salamis and cheeses are also popular, alongside artisan breads, raw fava beans with pecorino cheese and authentic pastas and calzones. We finish off with biscotti, sweet Italian almond biscuits that originated in the Tuscan city of Prato.

In between kicking back to enjoy quality food and great conversation with our favourite BIRRA MORETTI Zero in hand, we love to play soccer, bocce ball, bowls and dominoes with our friends in the sunshine.

DISCOVER OUR ITALIAN AL FRESCO IDEAS HERE

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