Passover Celebrations in Italy

Vintage Italian Majolica Seder plate

Since the arrival of Jews in Italy in 2nd century BC, the tradition of celebrating Pesach (Passover) festival has been assimilated into culture of Italian Jews. Italian Jews have developed their own unique style... with Passover being referred to as Pasqua Ebraica (Jewish Easter) and enjoying the tradition of Pesach all'Italiana dishes. The basic tradition of serving the Seder meal remains the same, presenting the Seder table with great happiness, joy and accompanied by singing traditional songs.

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carciofi alla Romana

The Italian Seder meal consists of Italian styled Jewish delicacies such as carpione (pickled fish), carciofi alla Romana (artichokes), bresaola (air cried, salted beef), matzoh lasagna, and Haroset all'Italiana (nut & fig chutney).  They also have no idea what gefilte fish is, but sill serve fish with raisins and nuts. There will also be marinated zucchini, fried eggs in honey, frizzy wilted Torzelli endives, pickled onions and jellied striped bass with homemade mayonnaise.

Many Italian Jews will often make a chicken soup with rice and chicken balls (similar to arancini), but for Seder, they will make Italian-style matzoh ball with olive oil instead of chicken fat. One Jewish Nonna explains, ''We never used chicken fat in Italy. Our chickens were too thin.''

Horseradish, Egg, Shank Bone, Haroseth, Bitter Herbs, Parsley

Bresaola

Haroset All'Italiana

Matzoh Lasagna

For dessert, they love tartufini (coconut and chocolate truffles), various fruit and nut cakes and tarts (much more moist in Italy) and tortino di azzine (chocolate & fruit tort in a cup). Unlike in the U.S., Italian Jews serve regional or imported Kosher wine with their meals... sweet wines are only served with dessert. Buying a Kosher Barolo is even possible nowadays.

tartufini

Matzoh

The Pesach festival is celebrated to commemorate the freedom of the Jews from oppression and slavery under the Egyptians over 3000 years ago. This year it is celebrated from the 10th to the 18th of April. Jewish communities are all over Italy... Rome, Florence, Ferarra, Venice, Pitigliano, Bologna, Genoa, Trieste, Ancona, Naples Padua, Pisa, Modena, Siena, Parma, Verona and also in Puglia, Campania, Sicily, and Calabria.

My family name has its ancient history in Jewish roots, although my small branch of the Finzi's have been Catholic in modern history. As my family celebrates Easter this year, I would like to offer my best wishes and...

Felice Festa Pesach!

--Jerry Finzi