Easter in Santa Cristina Gela

La Easter in Santa Cristina Gela it is a religious festival that meets the joyful and welcoming spirit of the local community, transforming this moment into a great celebration that involves the whole town.

Santa Cristina Gela is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo and here, for centuries now, a community of faithful of Greek-Byzantine origins has lived, which however has perfectly integrated with its new reality.

In harmony with the neighbors of Piana degli Albanesi and at the same time with the new Roman Catholic creed, the faithful celebrate Easter in Santa Cristina Gela singing in Albanian the resurrection of Lazarus, while the Passion is sung in Sicilian dialect.

On this occasion, it is possible to see up close a great moment of integration between two cultures, by attending the liturgical celebrations of Easter, with similar but not completely identical rites.

The highlights of the Feast, in addition to the Eucharist, are the egg collection, Procession of the Dead Christ and Burial rite, which take place on Good Friday, while on Easter Sunday the largest solemn Mass of the entire liturgical year is celebrated.

The story of Easter in Santa Cristina Gela

The Greek-Byzantine community of Santa Cristina Gela arrived in the village at the end of the seventeenth century. The community soon endowed itself with its own church, the Chiesa Maggiore di Santa Cristina Gela, in which to celebrate its rites and traditions. Although over time the community has perfectly integrated with the local inhabitants, and has welcomed the Roman Catholic cult, still today it is possible to witness some of the most ancient Greek-Byzantine traditions precisely in Easter celebration in Santa Cristina Gela, with the intonation of songs in Albanian, the celebration of the Eucharist with fermented bread, the rite of blessing eggs.

The simulacrum of Christ which is traditionally carried in procession, was made in papier-mâché in the eighteenth century. The faithful love to celebrate Easter also through the typical culinary culture of their community and so here, next to the handmade chocolate Easter eggs, the typical traditional dishes such as'fruit lamb and sugar, the glazed biscuits filled with dried figs and also other homemade desserts typical of the Sicilian tradition.

When Easter takes place in Santa Cristina Gela

Easter in Santa Cristina Gela falls in the month of April. The festivities begin with Palm Sunday.

Where Easter takes place in Santa Cristina Gela

Solemn masses, processions and other Easter rites take place in the streets of the town and at the main church of Santa Cristina Gela.

What to do during Easter in Santa Cristina Gela

In Santa Cristina Gela on the occasion of Holy Week it is possible to discover the typical rites of the ancient Greek Orthodox community, but also to admire its capacity for integration: even for tourists, it is possible to take part in the celebrations, together with the members of the community.

And after the party, why not discover the beauties of the place? There Major Church, built in the XNUMXth century, is one of the most beautiful buildings in the centre, but you will also find the Mother Church, which overlooks Piazza Umberto I and is consecrated to Santa Maria de'Platea. Then reach Piazza Polizzi, where you can admire theformer Town Hall , stone fountain; in the village you will also find the civic Museum and other historic buildings, such as Musacchia Palace e Palermo palace.

If you want to visit Piana degli Albanesi, the village of origin of the Greek-Byzantine community of Santa Cristina, the center is located just 4 km away, near the lake of the same name, where it is possible to organize picnics and days in the open air.

How to get to Santa Cristina Gela for Easter

Santa Cristina Gela is located in the Metropolitan City of Palermo. The village can be reached both by car and by train.
From the A19 Palermo-Catania, who travels by car can take the exit for Palermo. Who travels on the train, on the other hand, you can buy a ticket for the Guadagna-Palermo station, from where you can continue to the center by bus or shuttle.