Holy Week in Italy–and in Italian

La Settimana Santa
Holy Week

In the week before Easter (Pasqua) pilgrims from around the world travel to Italy to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (la passione, morte e resurrezione di Gesù Cristo). Every region celebrates with rituals that are a rich blend of faith, folklore, tradition and community.

Palm Sunday (La Domenica delle Palme)

In the massive piazza of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, tens of thousands gather to re-enact Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem. Chants of “Osanna!” echo through the vast square as the Pope blesses the palms and sends a special message — the ‘Angelus‘ — to the youth of the world. Throughout Italy you see worshipers carrying crosses made from palm fronds (foglie di palma intrecciate a forma di croce) and olive branches (ramoscelli di ulivo) as they return from church.

Holy Monday (Lunedì Santo)

In Castelsardo in Sardinia, famous for its elaborate Holy Week celebrations, an evocative ritual called Lunissanti begins at dawn and continues into the night. The Confraternita di S. Croce (brotherhood of the Holy Cross), wearing long white hooded tunics and carrying religious symbols, march in processions and sing medieval songs in a unique style called faburden or fauxbourdon (French for false bass). Similar ceremonies are held in other Sardinian villages throughout la settimana santa.

Holy Thursday (Giovedì Santo)

The faithful gather in the late afternoon or early evening for the Mass of the Last Supper (La Messa del’ultima cena), when Christ created the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (il sacramento dell’Eucarestia). In a gesture of humility and Christian brotherhood, priests (including the Pope himself) recreate Christ’s bathing of the feet (la cerimonia della lavanda dei piedi) of the Apostles by washing the feet of twelve parishioners.

Church bells, including handheld altar bells. are silenced until the Easter vigil Mass on Holy Saturday. In some places parents tell children, “All the bells have flown to Rome.” (Tutte le campanelle volano a Roma).

Good Friday (Venerdì Santo)

Some villages in Italy stage dramatic processions or re-creations of the Stations of the Cross (le Stazioni della Via Crucis). In Enna in Sicily, more than 2,000 friars dressed in ancient costumes march through the streets. In Trapani, another Sicilian town, the solemn procession lasts for 24 hours. The oldest Good Friday procession in Italy, held in Chieti in the Abruzzi , features 100 violinists playing Selecchi’s Miserere.

In Sorrento there are two Good Friday processions:
 the white procession (processione bianca) in the morning, with participants wearing white, symbolic of Mary’s hope as she searches for her son, and the black procession (processione nera) in the evening, where black represents Mary’s sorrow as she beholds his ever dead body.

In Rome the Pope leads a procession through the Stages of the Cross in and around the torch-lit Colosseum. As thousands of worshipers clutch candles in the dark, professional actors read dramatic interpretations of Christ’s suffering — one of the most moving religious experiences I’ve ever had.

Holy Saturday (Sabato Santo)

During this day of silence and prayer in honor of the dead Christ. Mass is not celebrated, and the tabernacle, which usually contains Communion hosts, is left empty and open. After sundown the solemn Easter vigil (Veglia pasquale) begins with the liturgy of fire (la liturgia del fuoco) and the lighting of the Easter candle (il cero pasquale), which represents the “Light of Christ” (la luce di Cristo).

Readings from the gospels (vangeli) recount the appearance of the angels to the women who came to the tomb in search of Christ. During the liturgy of the baptism (la liturgia battesimale), all the faithful (tutti i fedeli) renew their baptismal vows.

Words and Expressons

Via Crucis — Stations of the Cross, also used for a difficult time or challenge
avere la propria Croce – to have one’s cross or troubles
mettere qualcuno in croce — to put someone on the cross, to crucify or torment someone
Testa o croce? — heads or tails?
“Ognuno ha/porta la sua croce” — everyone has/carries his own cross

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