Happy Easter! Buona Pasqua! The lamb is one of the most prominent symbols of Easter. In Christianity, it symbolizes purity and sacrifice – two qualities associated with Jesus Christ. The basic form of the lamb is created from marzipan (sweet almond paste) using a mold. Then the cook decorates the pastry according to his or her inspiration. One distinct characteristic is the red flag, a symbol of victory over death.

The tradition of creating these lambs exists all over Sicily and is passed through generations.

This beautiful lamb was made by by friend Alessandro Marchese, a master frutta martorana/marzipan chef based in Catania.