Classic Easter Bread Recipe 

Gurrugulo or Scarcella

Rosella Cooking with Nonna 

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I fondly remember Easter and the way it was. All of my family emigrated here from southern Italy back in the early part of the twentieth Century. They were from Calabria, Basilicata and Benevento. Three distinct areas in Italy with different dialects and somewhat different traditions and recipes.

This article and post feature another part of southern Italy and the Easter tradition of Gurrugulo or Scarcella. Which at the moment we will refer to as Pane di Pasqua Pugliese. 

I never had this specific Easter specialty from the heel of the boot but if it is like everything else Rossella does it will be delicious. There will be more Easter Bread recipes from the other provinces in days to come but for now…. Hopefully you will Enjoy this recipe from Rossella.

Buona Pasqua

 

In Florence, Italy, the unique custom of the Scoppio del carro is observed. A holy fire is lit from stone shards from the Holy Sepulchre. This is used to light a fire during the singing of the Gloria of the Easter Sunday mass  which is used to ignite a rocket in the form of a dove. The dove represents peace and the holy spirit. This in turn lights a cart containing pyrotechnics in the small square before the Cathedral.

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Since its origins, Easter has been a time of celebration and feasting and many traditional Easter games and customs developed, such as egg rolling, egg tapping, pace egging, cascarones or confetti eggs, and egg decorating.

Today Easter is commercially important, seeing wide sales of greeting cards and confectionery such as chocolate Easter eggs as well as other Easter foods. Even many non-Christians celebrate these features of the holiday while ignoring the religious aspects.

 

 

 

 

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