Bouna Pasqua 2019

Easter is a huge holiday in Italy, actually it lasts for a minimum of a week beginning on Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday and for some longer than that.  Easter Sunday Italians spend with their family, Easter Monday is a National Holiday and is typically spent with friends. The festivities include processions and religious services throughout the week and fireworks.  Traditional foods are artichokes, roast lamb, sweet breads and lots of Italian chocolate!  There is no Easter bunny it Italy!!!

Caltanissetta is in the central part of Sicily easily accessible and advertises a procession with floats.  It takes  about an hour and a half to drive to Caltanissetta but it takes most of the evening for non Italian speakers to figure out where to go to see the procession. The weather was perfect!  

The Last Supper along with the band that accompanied the float down the street to the Piazza.

The soldiers capture Christ outside The Garden.

Christ appears before Caiphas.

The Trial of Christ.

The judgment being read to Christ.

Christ carries the cross through the streets.

The Roman soldiers accompany Christ.

The Crucifixion.

Christ removed from the cross.

Christ prepared for the tomb.

So where did this coffin come from?

Although this was an amazing cultural event to watch, it was a refreshing change of pace to attend Easter services at the Catania Chapel this morning and again at the Sigonella Branch to partake of the sacrament and renew covenants made at Baptism; to refer to the New Testament events of the last week in Christ's life in Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and the most  important event of all the Resurrection. "He Lives" and "Because of Him" we all do. Please know of our love for each of you and our testimony of Him who we celebrate this Easter morning in Italy.