Easter in Sicily: Family, Food and Traditions

How Easter in Sicily actually feels

I’ve been in Sicily for 10 years now, and I must say that my favorite holiday here is Easter.

Not only because of how deeply meaningful it is to me personally, but because of the way it’s experienced here.

The tradition of Easter is beautiful in Sicily, but it’s really about the atmosphere. It’s family. It’s a bit chaotic in the best way.

There’s always something happening. Kids running in and out, someone calling from the kitchen, someone else setting the table while talking about what’s missing. Doors are open, people coming and going, and somehow there’s always more people than expected.

You’ll hear little debates, how something should be cooked, who made it better last year, whether the lamb needs more time. It’s part of it.

Families start the day at mass together, dressed up, taking that moment seriously. And then it shifts right back into the house, into the kitchen, to the table.

It’s full. It’s loud. It’s warm.

Inside homes here, you’ll often find an Easter egg tree, branches placed in a vase and decorated with colorful eggs.

The branches represent the start of spring, and the eggs symbolize new life. It looks simple, but really, it carries a lot of symbolism.

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When you walk through town, you'll notice bakeries begin filling their windows with colomba di Pasqua.

You’ve likely heard of panettone, this is the Easter version. It’s one of Italy’s traditional celebration breads, soft and lightly sweet, made to be shared.

At Easter, it’s shaped like a dove, colomba means dove in Italian, which is a symbol of peace and renewal.

They're usually topped with almonds and a light sugar crust, though you'll find different versions now.

It’s the kind of thing that shows up on every table, sliced and shared, usually after a long meal when no one really needs more… but has some anyway.

And then there are the uova di Pasqua.

Those giant, beautifully wrapped chocolate eggs you’ll start seeing everywhere as Easter gets closer.

They’re filled with a surprise inside, which is what makes them so exciting for kids. But honestly, it’s just as much fun for the adults.

Walking into a shop and seeing rows and rows of them stacked high, all different sizes, all wrapped in bright paper… it honestly feels a bit like being a kid in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

People take their time choosing one, thinking about who it’s for.

It’s not something you grab quickly. It’s part of the experience.

And yes… we all still get excited about them.

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I’ll never forget the first time I saw cookies with a whole egg baked right into them.

Like an actual egg… still in its shell.

Here in Sicily, they’re called cuddura cu l’ova.

They’re one of the older Easter traditions, from before chocolate eggs were everywhere. The egg itself is the gift.

It’s placed right into the dough and baked whole, often shaped into braids or little baskets, sometimes even doves.

You’ll see them in bakeries, but also made at home, especially for children. I cherish the memories of my Nonna making those cookies for us.

Easter Sunday

But in my opinion, the heart of it all is family.

Easter Sunday is centred around the table.

Food comes out dish by dish, usually reflecting the season. Lamb, vegetables, prepared the way that family has always done it. Generations of tradition preserved in every dish.

Plates are passed, more food appears, someone refills your glass without asking.

You’re eating, talking, getting up, sitting back down again.

It’s connection. It’s taking time at the table. And yes… eating to your heart’s content.

Pasquetta

And then comes Pasquetta.

The day after Easter, Easter Monday.

This is when everything moves outside.

You gather with friends for a picnic or a barbecue, usually in the countryside. Food is packed up, wine is brought along, and the day just unfolds.

It’s relaxed. Easy. A continuation of the weekend, but lighter.

The Italians say:

“Pasqua in famiglia, Pasquetta con gli amici.”

Easter with family, Easter Monday with friends.

And it’s exactly that.

At Our Home

What I love most is how I’ve been able to blend this with my own American traditions.

In our home, Easter morning still starts with baskets for our girls, and an egg hunt that brings that same excitement I grew up with.

And then the day naturally shifts into our Sicilian traditions, with family, at the table, and everything that comes with that.

I’m really grateful to be able to give them both.

Why Easter feels different here

Easter here isn’t just one day.

It’s something Sicilians look forward to and plan for.

You feel the celebration of the season, from Lent, to Palm Sunday, to Good Friday... families organizing who’s hosting and what’s being made.

And then Easter arrives - sometimes it brings showers but other times sunshine. The important part is that we are all together and that's what makes it so special.

If this is the kind of Sicily you’re looking for, not just seeing it, but really experiencing it, this is exactly how we design our journeys.

It’s about being part of these moments. Taking time at the table. Understanding the traditions firsthand.

If it’s been on your heart, take a look at our upcoming journeys. You’ll know if one feels right.

We would absolutely love to share this experience with you.

With love from Sicily,

Dara

Founder, Gems of Sicily