Easter in Piana degli Albanesi

Every year, in the period preceding the Easter festival, the community of the faithful in Piana degli Albanesi repeats the traditional rites Greco-Byzantine, to prepare for the celebrations in memory of the Resurrection of Jesus.

A great celebration, Easter in Piana degli Albanesi, which celebrates cultural and religious diversity, as an additional value and not as a factor of separation: the faithful, by now assimilated to the local religious communities from the liturgical point of view, however, they recall the ancient traditions, which relive in the folklore of the Easter celebrations.

On the Friday that precedes Palm Sunday, the festivities kick off with the re-enactment of the Resurrection of Lazarus, a procession through the streets of the town in which all the faithful follow the Papàs, a priest who guides them through the streets of the centre, giving life to a festive and cheerful procession who sings invocations to Lazarus and brings sweets and fruit with him.

Then begins the Great Week, the one that in Roman Catholic tradition is Holy Week, with Palm Sunday: the blessing of the palms and olive branches takes place in front of the Church of San Nicola di Mira, before everyone sets out in procession towards the Cathedral of San Demetrios.

The peculiarity of this procession is that it is led by the Bishop, who proceeds riding a donkey. In the Cathedral of San Demetrio, all the faithful follow the liturgy.

Holy Thursday is the day of the washing of the feet: theEparch kneels before the Papas and washes their feet, reproducing the gesture of Jesus made during the Last Supper and narrated in the Gospel of John.

Good Friday opens with the songs of the choir, while in the afternoon Albanian songs are sung to Christ, to mourn his death, while the Crucifix is ​​carried in procession and the faithful play an ancient wooden instrument, typical of the Byzantine tradition.

On Holy Saturday it is customary to baptize the youngest of the community, before the announcement of the Resurrection of Christ. On this occasion, the aisles of the church are strewn with laurel leaves.

In the night between Saturday and Sunday, the faithful leave for a nocturnal procession in the direction of the Cathedral of San Demetrio: the faithful enter the Church singing the Christós anésti. After mass, all the people flock to the streets of the center singing the Resurrection of Christ.

Sunday is the real day of the Easter feast in Piana degli Albanesi: a triumphal feast, full of rites and ornaments, which is celebrated in the church, in the village and in the surrounding area: after mass, the faithful go to the rural church of the Our Lady of Hodegetria, where blessed eggs are donated to those present.

In these festive days, the Albanian community also gathers for traditional dances and songs.

The history of the Easter festival in Piana degli Albanesi

The Albanian community, present on the island since the XNUMXth century, has brought to Sicily the rites of the Greek-Byzantine tradition and the popular traditions of Albania, which come to life in songs and dances in the square on feast days.

When Easter takes place in Piana degli Albanesi

Every year the celebrations begin from Friday before Palm Sunday and end on Easter day.

Where Easter takes place in Piana degli Albanesi

There are three main churches where Easter celebrations take place in Piana degli Albanesi: the Church of San Nicola di Mira and the Cathedral of San Demetrio in the village and then, outside Piana, the Rural Church of Our Lady Odigitria, dedicated to the Patroness of Sicily.

What to do during Easter in Piana degli Albanesi

Living a fun, spiritual, inclusive and educational holiday: an all-round experience, the one in the heart of the Albanian community of Sicily.
Tourists are welcomed with pleasure, in fact tradition has it that they receive together with the faithful of the place, the Easter eggs after the blessing of the Church of the Madonna Odigitria. Take part in the liturgy, processions and all the events of the Big week it is an opportunity for spiritual reflection, but also a way to get to know the whole community better and with its traditional rites.

Between one event and another, in this week full of events, those who also want to devote themselves to discovering the surroundings, from Piana degli Albanesi can easily reach the Lago not far away, or head towards Palermo, which is only 27 km to the North, or visit Alcamo, about 44 km in the direction Castellammare del Golfo.

The legendary beauties of Palermo, such as the Cappella Palatina, the Church of the Martorana or the Church of Santa Caterina, to name just a few of the most beautiful churches in Italy, await you in the city, where you will also find all the delicious delicacies of Sicilian pastry and cuisine welcoming you.

In Alcamo, you cannot miss a stop on the beach in the splendid St Margaret's Bay (Castelluzzo di San Vito Lo Capo) the numerous castles in the center and in the surrounding area, the Church of the Annunziata and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta; little gem of Alcamo is the Fausto Cannone Museum of Multiethnic Musical Instruments, to visit especially if you love to know the cultural traditions of other countries. At the Ancient Vallone oil millfinally, it will be possible to taste and buy the excellent and award-winning local oil.

How to get to Piana degli Albanesi

Piana degli Albanesi, in the Metropolitan City of Palermo, can be reached by train or by car.

By car, take the SS 624 in the direction of Piana, exiting at km 20; by train, tourists can get off at Palermo Central Station and continue the journey to Piana degli Albanesi by bus or shuttle.