Pasquetta

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It poured with rain for most of the day yesterday so the weather was an absolute washout for Easter Sunday. We were lucky in that the weather did not spoil our celebrations with our neighbours. Joining them soon after 12.30pm and not returning home until late evening it was a very long but enjoyable day. Mentally exhausting though having to speak Italian all the time! Once again Annuziata produced a veritable feast of six courses plus coffee, starting with her lasagne, one of the best we have ever tasted. We then progressed through lamb and mushrooms, followed by chicken and mouth watering roast potatoes that were cooked in olive oil in the pizza oven. Finishing the meal with salad, fruit, columba cake and coffee. The afternoon spent mainly around the table passed quickly as the conversation flowed, along with the wine.

For supper we were treated to some of their home produced pork cooked over the open fire.

Today when I woke just before 8am it was pouring with rain, although as I have been writing it has gradually brightened up and the sun is now trying to shine. This is good news as today in Italy is a Bank holiday known as Pasquetta or Little Easter. Traditionally today after the rituals and elaborate feasts of Easter Sunday, many Italians celebrate with a picnic in the country side.

The weather is forecast to be sunny and much warmer again tomorrow, typical after the Bank holiday.

Weather Forecast for April 6th

I did not take any photos yesterday as the weather was just too depressing and I was not in the right frame of mind to do so. This morning however I have just ventured outside to photograph this beautiful iris I spotted from the window. 

It was 11am and the temperature was 10C, so I think I will be staying in doors for the rest of the day!

Easter Sunday, Today we can Celebrate, not only The Resurrection but also The Easter Egg, Uova di Pasqua.

Resurrected Jesus and Mary Magdalene, early 1900s Bible Card illustration
Observed by Christians
Significance
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus
Celebrations
Religious (church) services, festive family meals, Easter egg hunts and gift-giving

As it is Easter I am replacing my normal Sunday Song posting with this one.  I hope you are all having a lovely Easter Sunday however you may be spending it. 
My lovely husband presented me with this Easter Egg this morning. I love dark chocolate and of course we all know nowadays that a small piece every day is good for the heart!

Yesterday afternoon we received a visit from one of the ladies that arranges flowers in the church at Marta. Unbeknown to us it has been a tradition for many years that the Japonica in our garden has provided a bundle of branches for decorating the church in Marta for Easter Sunday. Unfortunately this lady was unwell last year and was unable to get here, hence the first we knew of this was yesterday. A tradition we are more than happy to help continue. When she arrived and introduced herself, she kept asking if it was ok if she cut some of the 'rosa 'fiori' 'pink flowers' for the church. We soon realised that the Japonica was the plant she was referring to.


We are on our own again this year, having expected my sister and her husband to be here, but various circumstances changed the plans. Never mind we have once again been invited next door to have Easter Sunday, lunch and supper with our wonderful neighbours click here some readers will already know about them and their extreme kindness. 

This is the Easter Basket we are giving our hosts today, full of goodies enjoyed at this time of the year including one of the special cakes of which there are many to choose from. this one is a 'Columba' often baked in the shape of a dove it signifies Peace.

Traditional Columba Cake

 

I  leave you today with this beautifully decorated shop window at The FIDA coffee
shop in Marta decorated for Easter.   One of my favourite shops in Marta, that you
can learn more about here

Friday Foto - Magnolia

Happy Easter to you all.


This photo was my 'Today' when I posted it 'Nature oh so beautiful'.


I have been encouraged to enter this photo to a competition called 'Today' at a great photographic blog website Communal global

Holy Week - Good Friday - Venerdì Santo

 

Good Friday is not a Bank Holiday here in Italy as it is very much considered a day of mourning.

 Good Friday  In the Roman Catholic Church read more about it on Wikipedia.

The Catholic Church treats Good Friday as a fast day, which in the Latin Rite of the Church is understood as having only one full meal (but smaller than a regular meal - often substituting meat with fish) and two collations (a smaller repast, two of which together do not equal one full meal). In countries where Good Friday is not a day of rest from work, the afternoon liturgical service is usually put off until a few hours after the recommended time of 3 p.m.

In Marta there will be a service this evening with a Procession through the streets to the church beforehand.

However the most moving procession we have witnessed since living here is the one in Tuscania. We rented an apartment in Tuscania when we first came out to Italy and had an excellent view overlooking the procession. A few of you may remember our photos of the event, which is an extremely emotional occasion.

I found this video of the Good Friday Tuscania Procession on You Tube, which I hope you will take a few minutes to watch to understand how seriously this event is taken. A friend who lives in Tuscania told me that for the young men of the town it is considered a great honour to be chosen to drag those very heavy chains attached to their ankles through the streets. They train for months, it is a very hilly town!