La Pasqua means Easter in Italian. It’s one of the most important holidays in Italy. People celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the day is full of tradition, food, and time with family.
Easter marks the end of la Quaresima (Lent), the 40 days of fasting and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday.
The week before Easter is called la Settimana Santa (Holy Week). It includes:
la Domenica delle Palme (Palm Sunday)
il Giovedì Santo (Holy Thursday)
il Venerdì Santo (Good Friday)
la Domenica di Pasqua (Easter Sunday)
In many towns, people take part in special church services and processions in the streets.
Even if people aren’t very religious, most Italians still celebrate la Pasqua by spending the day with family and enjoying a big meal together.
Useful vocabulary:
la Pasqua (Easter)
la Quaresima (Lent)
il Mercoledì delle Ceneri (Ash Wednesday)
la Settimana Santa (Holy Week)
la Domenica delle Palme (Palm Sunday)
il Giovedì Santo (Holy Thursday)
il Venerdì Santo (Good Friday)
la Domenica di Pasqua (Easter Sunday)
Say this phrase:
La Pasqua è una festa religiosa molto importante in Italia. (Easter is a very important religious holiday in Italy.)
How Italians Celebrate La Pasqua
In Italy, la Pasqua is a mix of religious tradition and time spent with family. It’s not as commercial as Christmas, but it’s still a big and meaningful holiday.
Many Italians start the day by going to la messa di Pasqua (Easter Mass), usually in the morning. Churches are often beautifully decorated with flowers. Some towns have le processioni (religious processions), where people walk through the streets carrying statues and candles, remembering the story of Easter.
During la Settimana Santa (Holy Week), especially in the south of Italy, you can see traditional events like people dressed in robes reenacting scenes from the life of Jesus. It’s a way to keep history and religion alive.
After church, families usually gather for il pranzo di Pasqua (Easter lunch). This is a long, delicious meal with traditional foods like l’agnello (lamb), la torta pasqualina (a savory Easter pie), and lots of chocolate eggs called le uova di cioccolato.
There’s also a fun saying Italians use around this time:
Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi. (Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want.)
This means that while Christmas is usually spent only with a close family, Easter is more relaxed—you can celebrate with friends, cousins, or even travel.
Useful vocabulary:
la messa di Pasqua (Easter Mass)
le processioni (processions)
il pranzo di Pasqua (Easter lunch)
l’agnello (lamb)
le uova di cioccolato (chocolate eggs)
Say this phrase:
Dopo la messa, mangiamo insieme il pranzo di Pasqua. (After Mass, we eat Easter lunch together.)
Easter Food Traditions
In Italy, every holiday is a good reason to eat well—and la Pasqua is no exception! Food is a big part of the Easter celebration. Each region has its own special recipes, but there are some dishes that many Italians enjoy across the country.
Main Dishes
A traditional Easter meal often includes l’agnello al forno (roast lamb). Lamb is a symbol of peace and new life, which fits with the meaning of Easter.
Another popular dish is la torta pasqualina, a savory pie made with spinach, ricotta cheese, and eggs. It comes from the Liguria region, but many Italians enjoy it during Easter. The eggs inside the pie represent spring and rebirth.
In the south of Italy, people often make la frittata di carciofi (artichoke frittata). Artichokes are in season during spring, and they’re a favorite ingredient for Easter dishes.
Desserts
After the main meal, it’s time for dessert—and Easter sweets in Italy are amazing!
One of the most famous is la colomba di Pasqua, a soft cake shaped like a dove. It’s similar to panettone (the Christmas cake), but lighter. It’s often topped with almonds and sugar.
Another beloved dessert, especially in Naples and southern Italy, is la pastiera napoletana. It’s a rich pie made with ricotta cheese, cooked wheat, candied fruit, and orange blossom water. The flavor is unique, and the scent reminds many Italians of Easter at home.
Of course, you can’t forget le uova di cioccolato (chocolate eggs). These large, hollow eggs have a surprise inside—like a toy or small gift—and are popular among both kids and adults. You’ll see them everywhere in Italy around Easter.
Useful vocabulary:
l’agnello al forno (roast lamb)
la torta pasqualina (Easter pie with spinach and ricotta)
la frittata di carciofi (artichoke frittata)
la colomba di Pasqua (dove-shaped Easter cake)
la pastiera napoletana (Neapolitan Easter pie)
le uova di cioccolato (chocolate eggs)
i dolci di Pasqua (Easter sweets)
Say this phrase:
A Pasqua mangiamo la pastiera e le uova di cioccolato. (At Easter, we eat pastiera and chocolate eggs.)
La Pasquetta
The day after Easter Sunday is called la Pasquetta in Italian. It means “Little Easter.” The official name is il Lunedì dell’Angelo (Easter Monday), but most people just say Pasquetta.
La Pasquetta is a public holiday in Italy. Schools, banks, and many shops are closed. After spending Easter Sunday with family, Italians like to use this extra day to relax and have fun—usually outside in the fresh air.
It’s common to organize a scampagnata (picnic), a gita fuori porta (day trip), or a grigliata (barbecue). Friends and families go to the countryside, the beach, the mountains, or even just a park. The idea is simple: enjoy nature, good food, and good company.
Many people bring leftovers from Easter lunch, plus things like bread, cheese, cold cuts, and wine. If the weather is nice, you’ll see parks full of groups eating, laughing, and playing games.
In some towns, there are also special events, festivals, or concerts for la Pasquetta. But overall, it’s a relaxed and informal day—less about tradition, and more about enjoying life.
Useful vocabulary:
la Pasquetta (Easter Monday or Little Easter)
il Lunedì dell’Angelo (Easter Monday - official name)
fare una scampagnata (to go on a picnic)
fare una grigliata (to have a barbecue)
fare una gita fuori porta (to take a short trip)
andare in campagna (to go to the countryside)
Say this phrase:
A Pasquetta facciamo una gita fuori porta con gli amici. (On Easter Monday, we take a short trip with friends.)
La Pasqua and la Pasquetta are special times in Italy. They bring together tradition, family, delicious food, and the joy of spring.
If you’re learning Italian, this is a great chance to practice new words and connect with Italian culture.
Try using some of the vocabulary from this post in your own sentences. Even better—talk about how you celebrate Easter, in Italian!
And remember:
"Natale con i tuoi, Pasqua con chi vuoi." (Christmas with your family, Easter with whoever you want.)
Happy Easter—and Buona Pasqua to you!