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The ones our
grandmothers made are really rare, replaced by serial
production, but the tradition is still deeply rooted. In the
Sorrentine peninsula palm Sunday is followed by a century
old tradition.
Maybe only a few people know that, in Sorrento and its
outskirts, the sugar almonds palms have a particular
meaning. The legend says that, during a palm Sunday in XVI
century, while Sorrentinian were getting ready for the olive
blessing, the country bells echoed for a Saracen raid.
The priest went to the church doorstep, inviting people in
to pray and invoke to be saved. |
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Everyone went in
except for a young fisherman who reached Marina Grande
almost bewitched by a mysterious call. While the priest was
blessing the olive branches, a terrible storm broke out and
all the Saracen ships sank just off the coast. Only a
young girl, a slave of Saracen, managed to save herself
and was taken by waves onto the beach. Here the fisherman picked her
up and led her to the church announcing the miracle.
The girl, cried she wanted to become Christian to thank
God for saving her. In a sign of gratitude she untied an old
small bag she used to wear around her neck and offered a
handful of white sugar almonds to the priest. After a
Christian blessing the sugar almonds were handed out to people
and later the girl revealed the mysterious recipe. Since then
the palms are made with sugared almonds to celebrate
the miracle which saved Sorrento. |
