Summary
Woven Easter Palms are made by worshipers and taken to church on Palm Sunday. They are blessed during the Mass and then taken home. The following year on Ash Wednesday, the blessed palms are brought back to the church where they are burned to make the ashes for the celebration of Ash Wednesday. Palms are woven into different shapes according to regions, towns and villages. Olive tree branches replaced the palms in mountainous villages. This palm was woven by Marcello D'Amico who migrated to Australia in 1955 at the age of 14 from the Island of Salina (Aeolian Islands). He learned the skills of palm weaving as a child from an old nun.
Physical Description
Part of the central rib of the leaf of a palm tree forms the base upon which the fronds have been plaited into three pointed panels. Seven fronds have not been woven and are left free at the top.
More Information
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Collection Names
Museums Victoria/Italian Historical Society Co.As.It Collection
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Mr Marcello D'Amico, 17 Jun 1996
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Maker
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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overall dimensions
59 cm (Height)
Three woven panels approx. 23cm.
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Keywords
Celebrations, Easter, Immigration, Italian Communities, Italian Immigration, Religions: Roman Catholic