for recipe see Italy Revisited/Recipes/"Holiday Breads"

According to my aunt, Zia Rosina, as well as my parents, in Casacalenda, Molise, Easter logs and/or cookies came in many different shapes and were made with different types of dough. The one thing they had in common was that all the Easter cookies were decorated with hard-boiled eggs (still in their shells). Some households presented the Easter cookies as long braided logs. Some other households coiled the braided logs -- the resulting treat was then known as a "caroselle." Carosello-shaped cookies were given to boys as gifts on Easter Sunday. Girls got Easter cookies shaped like dolls -- "puppata." Often, these "puppata" were also known as "zitta" which is the dialect for "spousa" -- bride. In Casacalenda the doll-shaped cookies were decorated with silver sprinkles, while the "carosello-shaped" cookies were decorated with multi-colored sprinkles. In some households the same dough was also used to make cookies shaped as baskets or donkeys. The shape of the cookie determined its name (e.g., a cookie shaped like a basket was called "cestino" -- basket). Cookies shaped like men were called "uomo" (man) but sometimes they were referred to as "santi" -- saints. In any case, even though these sweets were given as gifts on Easter Sunday to nieces and grandchildren, they were actually supposed to be eaten on Easter Monday when families went out and celebrated "la pasquetta." To celebrate "la pasquetta" (Easter Monday) families (including aunts, uncles, cousins etc.) went picnicking in the countryside. This was known as "la scampagnata." According to my aunt, as well as my parents, many households gave gift baskets to teachers on Easter Monday. Most farmers included sausages, cheese and Easter cookies in their gift baskets. One more thing -- these "cookies" are often called "Easter cakes" possibly because of their size. It's understood they are not meant for one person -- well, at least not in one sitting. Often these cookies (or Easter cakes) were cut up and shared. Photo: by the contributor.

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