Easter in Italy - Sacred Silence and family traditions

A Sacred Silence: Witnessing Holy Thursday in Sorrento – by Sydney Hearn

As an American, Easter has always meant pastel colors, egg hunts, and church services filled with celebration. This year, I experienced something completely different while in Sorrento on Holy Thursday, a tradition that was both unfamiliar and unique.

That evening, I stood along Corso Italia, the main road in town, surrounded by quiet anticipation. Then came the sound of slow footsteps and the appearance of solemn, white-hooded figures walking silently through the streets. At first, the sight caught me off guard. Where I’m from, that image carries a very different and troubling meaning. But what I quickly realized was that this procession was part of a centuries-old religious tradition, deeply meaningful to the local community.

These Holy Week processions, held across towns on the Sorrentine Peninsula, date back to the 1300s. They are organized by local religious brotherhoods, or confraternite, and are meant to honor the Passion of Christ. On Holy Thursday and Good Friday, several processions take place in each town, with participants wearing hoods and robes of various colors, including white, red, and black. The one I witnessed featured white robes, but I later learned that each color holds its own significance within the tradition.

As the procession slowly moved through the streets, carrying symbolic objects like nails, coins, or a shroud, the air was filled with the scent of incense and soft chanting. The experience was quiet and solemn, with no announcements or cheers, just people standing still in reverence as the figures passed by. The procession wasn’t a performance, but a meaningful act of devotion passed down through generations.

If you’re ever in southern Italy during Easter, take the time to witness one of these processions. With multiple events happening over Holy Thursday and Good Friday, there’s a chance to experience the different colors, sounds, and moments of reflection. Go with an open mind, and let the quiet power of the tradition speak for itself.

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Diving into tradition: Pasqua in famiglia! by Clara Ventimiglia, Alexis Daniel

Holidays are usually all about good vibes; time off work, food, and gathering with loved ones. But when you’re studying abroad, you’ve got to build that circle of “family and friends” from scratch. Lucky for us, our unofficial Italian host and MBA classmate, Caterina Bittante, invited us to celebrate Easter with her family. And let me tell you, che sorpresa!

Easter is every bit as special as in the US or Argentina, with that universal theme: coming together to share a meal and good company. Across all our cultures, Easter has its own flavor, but there’s always a sweet touch. The eggs! In Italy, grocery store aisles were overflowing with giant chocolate eggs, each hiding a little surprise inside. This was very reminiscent of the chocolate egg exchanges back in Argentina. While in the US, we typically have candy-filled Easter baskets with mini egg-shaped treats and decorate eggs.

This year, though, instead of Argentina’s classic asado, a South American barbecue, especially popular in Argentina, where meats are grilled over open flames and shared socially, we went full Italian with a 4-hour pranzo, homemade and served with love. Caterina invited us over the day before to help prep, and we got a front-row seat to some of her family’s culinary secrets. From mastering how to make the tastiest crespelle to perfecting ragù for the lasagna, we learned the magic behind those mouthwatering flavors. Can we share the recipes? Mi dispiace, lo siento, I’m sorry…We’ve been sworn to secrecy!

Caterina’s family welcomed us with open arms, and we chatted in a joyful mix of Italian, English, and Spanish. This is what studying abroad is all about, connecting cultures one conversation at a time. And even though by now we should be used to Italy’s legendary four-course meals, we still had to fight to make room for the sweet focaccia at the end. However, there’s always room for dessert.

Huge grazie to our hostess with the mostess (and suo marito) for curating such a perfect Easter pranzo in their beautiful home. This experience reminded us that while traditions may differ, the heart of the celebration; family, friends, and community is what really matters. It’s what’s helped us through the MBA grind, and what’s made our Italian adventure so incredibly rich.