Italians indulge in Easter festivities with lavish meals and time-honored traditions

Easter celebrations are a time for many Italians to gather with loved ones and indulge in traditional foods. According to a survey by Ipsos for Contributions, 65% of Italians will celebrate Easter with a lunch at their own or relatives’ home, while 12% will opt for a restaurant meal and 9% will travel.

Italians are expected to spend 2.5 billion euros on Easter lunch this year, with an average budget of around 40 euros per person. For those opting to dine at a restaurant, that budget is expected to rise to 50 euros. This spending level is consistent with last year, with 56% of Italians planning to spend the same amount, 27% planning to spend more, and 17% planning to save compared to 2023.

When it comes to dining out for Easter, Southern Italians lead the way, followed by those in the North West, Center, North East, and the Islands. Other popular options include celebrating at friends’ homes or in outdoor spaces like parks. Traditional Easter foods like chocolate eggs, doves, seasonal vegetables, cured meats, grilled meats, and lamb are expected to be on Italian tables along with traditional local dishes.

On Easter Monday, only about one in three Italians will have lunch at home or with relatives while others plan to travel picnic in a park visit friends or dine out at a restaurant. Overall the Easter holiday is a time of celebration gathering for many Italians with a focus on traditional foods spending time with loved ones.