Arbëreshë Easter (Pashkët)

The Arbëreshë Easter of Contessa Entellina

In the heart of the Belice Valley, in the province of Palermo, the small town of Contessa Entellina (Hora e Kuntisës in the Arbëreshë language) preserves one of the most fascinating religious traditions in Sicily: the Arbëreshë Easter, known as Pashkët in the ancient Albanian language still spoken in the village. Founded around 1450 by Albanian refugees fleeing the Ottoman advance, the village is one of the five Arbëreshë centers in Sicily, alongside Piana degli Albanesi, Santa Cristina Gela, Mezzojuso, and Palazzo Adriano, and is part of the Eparchy of Piana degli Albanesi.

The Greek-Byzantine Rite

What makes this celebration unique is the Greek-Byzantine rite, kept intact for over five hundred years. Liturgies alternate between Albanian, Ancient Greek, and Italian, accompanied by popular religious chants of extraordinary evocative power. Easter is the most important festival of the year for the Arbëreshë community, a symbol of Resurrection and hope, and a moment to reaffirm their cultural and linguistic identity.

Holy Week Rites

Celebrations begin on the Friday preceding Palm Sunday with the liturgy dedicated to the resurrection of Lazarus and the evocative Lazarus chant performed through the streets of the village, accompanied by the local brass band.

• Palm Sunday (Rromolldhet): After the Divine Liturgy, the blessing of olive branches and the procession take place, where ancient prayers alternate with folk songs.
• Holy Thursday: Vespers and Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great.
• Good Friday: Visits to the Sepulchres set up in the churches and the evening procession from the churches of the Most Holy Annunciation (Santissima Annunziata) and Saint Nicholas (San Nicolò).
• Holy Saturday: At midnight, the celebration of the Resurrection and the procession of the Christòs Anèsti (Christ is Risen) through the village streets.
• Easter Sunday: The brass band parades to announce the solemn Divine Liturgy in the Greek church, followed by a procession of the clergy and faithful toward the Church of the Madonna della Favara.

Red Eggs and Traditional Costumes

The most anticipated and photographed moment is the distribution of blessed red eggs by the papàs (priests): the red eggs, symbols of rebirth, life, and fertility, are collected between Friday and Saturday and offered to the faithful by young women wearing the sumptuous, richly embroidered traditional Arbëreshë costume of Contessa. While chanting the Christòs Anèsti, the Greek-rite community also offers its Easter greetings to the Roman-rite faithful, in a gesture of fraternity that encapsulates the profound meaning of this land, a border between two traditions.

A Heritage to Discover

Attending the Arbëreshë Easter in Contessa Entellina means immersing oneself in a living heritage where language, faith, and folklore merge into an experience unparalleled in the rest of Sicily. It is an event of growing tourist importance, capable of attracting visitors eager to discover the most authentic and secret soul of the island.