IAP 138: Buona Pasquetta! An Exploration of Italian American Easter Traditions

Buona Pasquetta Everybody!!!  Today is Easter Monday or "Little Easter"... a day that, in Italy, represents a chance to celebrate the arrival of the Easter Season with friends and family, picnics and parties, and a second go at the leftover delicacies that every Italian family makes with pride in preparation for Easter Sunday.   And speaking of those countless confections, in this week's episode, our team celebrates our own little Pasquetta gathering by dissecting the Easter traditions that have come to define an Italian American Pascal Feast.  Join us as we dive into the fascinating histories of pizza chiena, pastiera, and other time-honored Easter treats that our families continue to include as part of their holiday tables. We'll share our own personal traditions, and examine everything from the varieties of Easter breads to why many families have to include a marzipan lamb on the Easter Table.   And we'll explore what constitutes "pan Italian American" traditions -- the items immediately recognized by anyone of Italian origin, regardless of where their families came from. We will also talk about how we observe the Holy Triduum and how these observances tie into what we choose to eat when we break our Lenten fasts, and we'll ask ourselves, "Should we or shouldn't we try to make these recipes healthy?"  In true Italian American Podcast style, we'll get a masterclass on the history of Lenten abstinence, the modern Easter traditions of the "Italy of Nutella,"and how the business of importing goods from Italy has affected the Italian American holiday.  Finally, we'll reveal how we're each adapting this year's celebration in light of current events and how what's going on today is helping us collectively strengthen our ties to yesterday. So sit back, grab a leftover piece of pizza rustica, pour yourself a glass of wine, and join us for this very special Easter episode! Buona Pasqua and Buona Pasquetta!!