Steeped in a tradition that oscillates between the sacred and the profane, Salento's Pasquetta, or Easter Monday, is one of the most anticipated and heartfelt holidays in Puglia.
Lived as a time of great spring joy and sharing, people generally choose to spend it in the company of friends and family outdoors, perhaps in the shade of the majestic olive trees that populate the landscape.
A favorite destination for this holiday is the countryside, and people often opt for a picnic in the countryside or lunch at some local farmhouse to enjoy traditional local dishes.
In fact, the Salento Easter Monday is closely linked to popular tradition, and this is one of the occasions when all the characteristic folklore of Puglia emerges.
Generally, in all the small towns of Salento, on the morning of the Monday after Easter, real trips are organized to the typical rural places where the tradition of celebration has been going on for years, if not centuries.
To name a few, for example, we recall the Madonna degli Angeli in Sternatia, the chapel just outside the town where people gather for the festivities; or in Copertino, the appointment is at the Sanctuary of the Grottella where food stands are set up that dispense succulent typical Salento dishes. In Nociglia, on the other hand, Easter Monday is spent at the small rock church of Madonna degli Angeli in contrada Farnese, also just outside the town. In Calimera, in the square of the ancient Chiesetta di San Vito, outside the town, a big party is held until late in the evening, including dancing, singing and pizziche. Another of the most striking rock shrines is that of the Madonna di Montevergine in Palmariggi, not far from Otranto.
Tradition has it that at these renowned shrines, in the small squares in front of them or in the surrounding countryside, Mass is celebrated in the morning to inaugurate the festivity, and the day then proceeds under the banner of music and concerts, folk dances, children's games and stalls selling typical products. This is a true immersion in the cultural roots of the area that have been passed down from generation to generation.
If you find yourself spending Easter Monday in the heart of Lecce, however, it is customary to celebrate this holiday no longer (or not only!) on Easter Monday, as per the calendar, but on the Tuesday after Easter.
This is named Lu Riu and has very ancient origins, the child of a Byzantine rite tradition.
The Leccesi of past generations had adopted the custom of going to the Sanctuary of Surbo, just three kilometers from the city, to celebrate Our Lady of Aurio in the sanctuary of the same name and from which the festivity takes its name.
Another etymology we find instead in the name of the park where people generally decide to spend this day, Parco Rauccio, far from the city chaos and immersed in the tranquility and greenery of nature.
Rauccio Park is equipped with a small picnic area where you can eat the typical dishes of the day, without forgetting, however, to be inside a protected area, where more than elsewhere it is necessary to behave properly towards nature.
Another of the most famous parks in Lecce where you can experience Lu Riu is Belloluogo Park, located on the outskirts of the city, which has large green spaces where you can lie down for a picnic or be caressed by the sun while lying on the grass.
The Salento Easter Monday cannot but end with relaxing walks on the beach or in the most enchanting seaside resorts in the Salento area, such as Otranto, Gallipoli, Castro marina, Santa Cesarea Terme or Santa Maria di Leuca. But whether one chooses to spend Easter Monday in the countryside or by the sea, one cannot escape the folkloric charm that this celebration brings.
So, if you are planning your vacation in Puglia during the Easter holidays and are looking for accommodation to spend your stay, it is a good idea to move well in advance and book a vacation home in Salento.
With Barbarhouse solutions, you will have many comfortable choices in contact with nature and the sea, to spend an Easter holiday to remember.
