Easter bread

Easter Bread

Colomba di Pasqua, a traditional Italian Easter bread

Easter bread refers to a variety of sweet and savory breads traditionally prepared and consumed during the Easter holiday season in many cultures around the world. These breads often have symbolic meanings and are associated with the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Varieties of Easter Bread

Easter breads vary widely in ingredients, preparation methods, and cultural significance. Some of the most well-known varieties include:

Colomba di Pasqua

The Colomba di Pasqua is an Italian Easter bread shaped like a dove, symbolizing peace and the Holy Spirit. It is similar in texture to the Panettone and is made with flour, eggs, sugar, natural yeast, and butter, and often contains candied peel. The top is usually sprinkled with pearl sugar and almonds.

Paska

Paska is a traditional Easter bread in Eastern Europe, particularly in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland. It is a rich, eggy bread often decorated with religious symbols such as crosses or braids. Paska is typically blessed in church on Holy Saturday and consumed on Easter Sunday.

Tsoureki

Tsoureki is a Greek Easter bread flavored with mahlab, a spice made from the seeds of the St. Lucie cherry, and sometimes mastic, a resin from the mastic tree. It is braided and often decorated with red-dyed eggs, symbolizing the blood of Christ.

Kulich

Kulich is a tall, cylindrical bread popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. It is similar to Paska but is often richer and sweeter, containing raisins, nuts, and candied fruit. Kulich is traditionally blessed in church and served with Paskha, a sweet cheese spread.

Hot Cross Buns

Hot Cross Buns are spiced sweet buns marked with a cross on the top, traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the United Kingdom and other countries. The cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices represent the spices used to embalm him at his burial.

Casatiello

Casatiello, a savory Neapolitan Easter bread

Casatiello is a savory Easter bread from Naples, Italy. It is made with a rich dough that includes lard and is filled with cured meats and cheeses. The bread is often decorated with whole eggs, which are baked into the dough.

Pastiera

Pastiera Napoletana, a traditional Italian Easter cake

Pastiera is a type of Italian Easter cake from Naples, made with cooked wheat, eggs, ricotta cheese, and flavored with orange flower water. It is traditionally prepared a few days before Easter to allow the flavors to meld.

Symbolism and Traditions

Easter breads often carry deep symbolic meanings. The use of eggs in many recipes symbolizes rebirth and renewal, reflecting the resurrection of Christ. The round shapes of some breads represent the cycle of life and eternity. In many cultures, these breads are blessed in church and shared with family and friends as a symbol of unity and celebration.

Related Pages

• Easter
• Panettone
• Matzah
• Challah