THE SUGAR ALMOND PALMS

The week that leads to Easter is extremely suggestive in the Peninsula. Palm Sunday, the day that celebrates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, the community of Sorrento carry olive palm branches, blessed during a solemn ceremony.

Next to these palms, some more particular types can be seen, made from colored sugar almonds, which can only be found in the Peninsula as they relate to an ancient and suggestive legend.
 
It is said that, one a Palm Sunday of the 16th century, while Sorrentines were getting ready to receive the blessings, the bells where sounded informing one more attempt of invasion from the Saracens. The priest, already dressed and prepared to the mass invited the people to join the blessings before arming and defending themselves. Sorrento frightened inhabitants sheltered themselves inside the church and prayed to be saved from the pirates.

Their prayers were answered and all the Saracen ships sank just off the coast. None of the pirates were saved, the only survivor was a young girl, a slave of the Saracens, who miraculously managed to swim to the Marina Grande. She also went to the Cathedral searching for refuge and was lovingly welcomed and protected by the Sorrentines. In a sign of gratitude, she let an old small bag slip from around her neck which spilled its contents onto the altar: they were colored sugar almonds.

According to the legend, and as it was Palm Sunday, since then, every year, in memory of the danger they had escaped, the palms in Sorrento are multicolored with sugar almonds. It is a “thank you” gift from the young slave who, thanks to the Sorrentines, was miraculously saved from the Saracens.

Still today, the legend of this young girl relives every Palm Sunday when the people of Sorrento bring sugar almond palms to be blessed by the Church.
You may find so many different types, the sugar almonds are in several different shapes and colors and are beautifully combined with flowers, wheat stalks and all that "sugar almond artists" creativity is able to express.

Sorrento Info suggestion:
Should you wish to take away a really unique souvenir of Easter in Sorrento, a sugar almond palm is just the right choice. Prior and during Easter, you will find a variety in all pastry and souvenir shops in the small winding alleys of the Historical Center. There is just one rule to choose the one you like best: have a good look around, especially in traditional shops.