Easter Archives - Massa Lubrense

27
Mar 24
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Easter traditions in Massa Lubrense

Category:Blog,Festivals,Food,Travel,Travel Tags : Culture Easter Tradition

written by Eleonora Aiello

Among the various religious traditions rooted in the culture of Massa Lubrense, there are certainly some very peculiar ones that make it unique. And it is precisely the case of the traditions of the Easter period. In this article, we will analyze the habits and rituals that most represent this area during Holy Week.

Lent

Lent (in Italian “Quaresima”) represents for Catholics a period of penance and fasting in preparation for Easter. This phase of abstinence, in the Roman rite, runs from Ash Wednesday until sunset on Holy Thursday.

Quarantana bambola di Quaresima — “Quarantana”, the doll of Lent

In the Sorrento peninsula there is an ancient custom of preparing “la vecchia” (= “the old woman”), a small doll in black clothes that, in the popular imagination, personifies “Quarantana”, a thin and skimpy old woman. Dressed in a long skirt, black handkerchief on the head, distaff, and spindle in hand, the doll is hung outside the houses. Under her skirt, she has an onion, or a potato, skewered with seven chicken feathers that act as a ritual calendar: one feather is removed every Sunday, while the last one is removed at noon on Holy Saturday.

The palm Sunday

As a first appointment, we must mention that of Palm Sunday, the day in which we remember the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of Jesus, riding a donkey and acclaimed by the crowd who greeted him As a first appointment we must mention that of Palm Sunday, the day in which we remember the triumphal entry into Jerusalem of Jesus, riding a donkey and acclaimed by the crowd who greeted him waving palm branches.

In the territory of Massa Lubrense, the palms are often replaced by olive branches, blessed in a ceremony that takes place in the church, which each faithful will decorate and embellish. Traditionally, these olive branches are adorned with the addition of small caciocavalli, locally produced cheeses, small salamis, and colored sugared almonds.

Palm branches with intertwined leaves are also used. The weaving work must be done a few days before the blessing because the palm leaves dry quickly, thin, and spoil easily. Before proceeding with the weaving, each leaf must be clean or freed from the woody part that covers it, and the leaves that are too pungent must be removed.

Domenica delle palme — Palm with olive branch

The foot-washing ceremony

But the religious rites that most distinguish this area are, without any doubt, those of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The first recalls the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper where Jesus washed the feet of the Twelve Apostles. To commemorate this event, the ceremony of the foot-washing is celebrated during the Mass in Coena Domini, where the priest washes the feet of twelve people representing the twelve apostles. Furthermore, from Thursday evening the church bells will remain “tied”, that is, mute.

The processions

During Holy Week, processions of hooded people walk the streets of the town symbolically representing the passion and death of Jesus. They are distinguished from each other by the color of the garments, the times of exit and the choirs that accompany them. Two processions are held in Massa Lubrense: one starts from Torca, the other from Massa center.

All the itineraries of the processions can be found on the website processioni.com. In addition to Massa Lubrense, the processions also take place in the municipalities of Sorrento, Sant’Agnello, Piano, and Meta.

Easter and Easter Monday

Easter Sunday is announced by the sacred and solemn ringing of the bells which, finally, can be dissolved to ring in “glory”.

The following Easter Monday is called “Pasquetta”: on this day, even if there is often bad weather, families and friends use to have a nice outing with a picnic in nature.

13
Mar 24
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Typical Easter dishes in Massa Lubrense

Category:Blog,Festivals,Food,Food Tags : Easter Gastronomia Local Products Tradition

written by Eleonora Aiello

Massa Lubrense is known not only for its cultural, historical and landscape resources, but also for its gastronomy. In particular, given the imminent arrival of Easter, we will go and see which are the main dishes of the Easter tradition in this area.

Salty “casatiello”

Casatiello, a name that derives from the Latin caseus (= cheese), is one of the savory dishes par excellence of the Easter holidays. Inside we can find a mix of cheeses, lard, cracklings and various cold cuts. All then garnished with unshelled hard-boiled eggs that are woven into the dough as a decoration.

Casatiello guarnito con cubetti di salame, prosciutto, mozzarella e uova sode.

Sweet “casatiello”

It is a recipe that is handed down from family to family, each with its own secrets and procedures.
Compared to the salty casatiello it has a much longer and more elaborate preparation. It has a leavening process that can last for days, thanks to the use of “criscito” which in the Neapolitan dialect is nothing more than the mother yeast, which allows it to be stored for many days without losing its soft consistency.

Pastiera

It is one of the oldest Easter desserts on the peninsula. Its origins date back to pagan cults, prepared to celebrate the arrival of spring. It is a shortcrust pastry pie with a filling made of ricotta, boiled wheat, eggs, spices and candied fruit. The pastry of the pastiera is crunchy, in contrast to its soft gold-colored filling which has a flavor and scent that vary according to the aromas used. The classic version involves the use of cinnamon and orange blossom water, but this does not prevent you from trying different aromas.

Roasted artichokes

They have always been considered the classic side dish of the Easter lunch. To prepare roasted artichokes, you need large, hairless, thornless artichokes with a long, straight stem. They are flavored with oil, garlic and parsley, and then cooked directly on the coals.

The handmade Easter egg

The choice of the Easter egg as a symbol of this holiday is linked to the fact that the egg is seen as a symbol of life. All the children are anxiously awaiting the arrival of this day in order to finally be able to break the chocolate eggs and unwrap the surprise. The eggs have been made to celebrate Easter since 1850 and are used only in Italy or in countries where there are large Italian communities.

Today, the Massa Lubrense pastry shops prepare artisan chocolate eggs of all sizes and for all tastes. A gift appreciated not only by children!

Handmade Easter dove cake

It was Dino Villani, advertising director of the Milanese company Motta, who, in the 1930s, invented a dessert similar to panettone, but intended for the Easter holidays. Since then, the Easter dove cake has spread to the tables of all Italians, and even far beyond the borders of Italy. The original dough, based on flour, butter, eggs, sugar and candied orange peel, with a rich almond glaze, has subsequently taken on different shapes and variations.

Easter menu with traditional dishes

For those who have no idea what to cook for Easter Sunday lunch, here is a menu to take inspiration from.

Appetizer: casatiello, various cold cuts, cheeses and vegetables;
First courses: lasagna or baked pasta;
Second courses: lamb in the oven or mixed grilled meats with potatoes or vegetables;
Desserts: pastiera and chocolate eggs.

These are the typical dishes of an Easter lunch in Massa Lubrense, but nothing prevents you from being able to create a personalized menu based on your preferences.

Buon appetito!

22
Mar 15
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Processions of the dead Christ – Easter in Massa Lubrense

Category:Blog,Events,Featured,Festivals Tags : Easter Events Events Folklore Folklore

There are two processions of the dead Christ taking place in Massa Lubrense on Good Friday: one in Massa centro and one in Torca.

Arciconfraternita della Morte e Orazione – Massa Centro

Good Friday
Route: Chiesa S. Maria delle Grazie, Largo Vescovado, Via Palma, Via Roma, Via Rivo a Casa, Via IV Novembre, Piazza Marconi, Via Rachione, Via Mortella, Rotabile Massa Turro. Viale Filangieri, Largo Vescovado,Via Mortella, Rotabile Massa Turro, Viale Filangieri, Largo Vescovado, Chiesa S. Maria delle Grazie.

“The procession of the dead Christ – Confraternity Death and Prayer of Massa Lubrense“
Dramatic and symbolic representation of the passion and death of Christ having a carthartic value, the procession of the dead Christ, which runs every Good Friday through the streets of Massa Lubrense, is a direct subsidiary of similar medieval representations, enriched and supplemented by the taste of the theatrical that the Spanish brought in our Easter religious tradition and that became evident especially in the exhibition of instruments linked to the passion of Christ.

The Jesuits gave the biggest impetus to the pious practice of the procession of the dead Christ, and yet, although the city of Massa Lubrense had a great and powerful College of that order, no sign, no description of the march seems to have remained.

By the lawyer. Cuomo, historian emeritus of our local reality, we learn that “toward the 1910-12 the Procession of the “Dead Christ“ began to be organized in Massa Lubrense (the statue was purchased by the administration of the Church Cathedral), but the Confraternity of the Rosary of the Annunciation used to participate with its own dress, used for the funeral of the confreres (white coat, black capes, and white cap). With the passing of time, this procession went slowly degrading; until in 1971, when the tradition was renewed: with all blacks clothes, innovating path and furnishings. “

Since 1995, the procession is no longer organized by the parish former Cathedral of Santa Maria delle Grazie, but the reborn Confraternity Death and Prayer. It starts from the former Cathedral just after sunset, by torchlight, in order and strict silence.

Confraternita San Filippo Neri – Torca

Good Friday
Route: Chiesa Parrocchiale San Tommaso Apostolo, Piazza San Tommaso Apostolo, via Botteghe di Sopra, via Torricella, Via Croce, Via Reola, via Regina Margherita (fino al bivio con Acquara), ritorno lungo via Regina Margherita, via Reola, Doppio Corso, Via Deserto, Piazza Sant’Agata, Corso Sant’Agata, Via Croce, Via Torricella, Piazza San Tommaso Apostolo, Chiesa Parrocchiale San Tommaso Apostolo.

“The procession of the dead Christ – Confraternity San Filippo Neri of Torca” The Confraternity of St. Filippo Neri, the westernmost of the Sorrento peninsula, organizes a procession during Holy Week, and properly on Good Friday evening. This initiative is due to the old parish priest Mollo who promoted favoring it with a statue of the dead Christ in papier mache.

The wear of time (maybe even a little carelessness) suggested to replace the statue with another in wood, that the current parish priest, Don Mario Cafiero, realized with the contribution of the local people. Like all other similar rites, this procession begins at dusk, but features its peculiarities: it is opened by “Catholic children” of the parish with their “pennant”, followed by the Associations of Catholic Action (youth and women) and then by the Confraternity, in black habit. The brothers carry in procession the ‘torment‘ and ‘lamps‘.

The final part of the procession is made up of a group of boys who carry on their shoulders the “cross”, the statue of the Dead Christ (adorned with lights and flowers), the musical band, a choir of children and young people and, finally, the venerated statue of Our Lady of Sorrows (also adorned with flowers and lights), followed by a large group of women in prayers.

This procession of the Confraternity of San Filippo Neri has not the chorus of “Miserere”, but in its place has the children’s choir, singing the hymn “At Calvary“, in the same text of the Confraternity of the Crucifix of Meta, which so begins:

Del Calvario sull’erta pendice
Il Dator della vita s’immola
Col suo sangue dell’Uomo infelice
Ei cancella la colpa fatal
A raccogliere l’estrema parola
Del Suo figlio morente una madre
Resta immota tra barbare squadre
Come vinta da colpo fatal.

The procession reaches the neighboring hamlets of Pastena and S. Agata, in which churches, among devout masses of crowds, the priest plays an appropriate speech, then returning to Torca where, among the general commotion, the participants and the people kiss the Madonna’s mantle and the statue of the Dead Christ, at the conclusion of their penitential rite and as hope for the feast of Easter Sunday.

Tag Archives: Easter

Mar 24

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