A Traditional Italian Dessert: Pinza

Pinza triestina — a local variant of pinza bread from Trieste

Pinza is a traditional Italian sweet roll dessert which is popular in Istria and Dalmatia, as well as in the area around Trieste (pinza triestina) and Gorizia (pinza goriziana) in Italy. Pinza is most commonly an Easter food made from eggs; it is baked with a cross-shape in the center and is frequently eaten as breakfast at the end of Lent. Sometimes it is also eaten at Christmas and is made with nuts and dried fruit.

The name ‘pinza’ derives from the Latin verb ‘pinsare’, which means ‘to knead’ or ‘to beat’. The word ‘pizza’ (one of the most popular Italian foods in the world) is believed to have the same etymological origins. Different types of desserts with this same name can be found throughout Italy in the areas of Veneto (pinza veneta), Trentino (pinza trentina), Friuli (pinza friulana), Bologna (pinza bolognese) and other parts of Italy.

In recent decades, due to the Croatian and Slovenian occupation of Istria and Dalmatia, many local Italian traditions and cuisines of Istria and Dalmatia have entered modern Croatian and Slovenian culture and cuisine, including pinza (where it is known as pinca, sirnica or pogača). Some even say that it is not a “true Croatian Easter” without pinza bread. Therefore it is only natural that, in a further attempt usurp Istrian and Dalmatian culture and rewrite history, attempts have been made by Slavic revisionists to claim pinza as a “Slavic” food, entirely ignoring its introduction into Istria and Dalmatia by the native Italians.

St. Venantius of Salona - April 1

Mosaic of St. Venantius and other saints in the
Chapel of St. Venantius in the Lateran Basilica in Rome, Italy

April 1 is the feast of St. Venantius, bishop and martyr.

St. Venantius (San Venanzio di Salona) was born in the 3rd century. He was an Italian, sent from Rome to preach Christianity in the province of Dalmatia. He became the first bishop of the Roman city of Salona and died there as a martyr in circa 270 AD, together with his five companions St. Asterius, St. Paulinianus, St. Telius, St. Antiochianus and St. Gaianus.

St. Venantius is categorized on the English and Croatian versions of Wikipedia as a “Croatian saint”, despite the fact that Croats did not arrive in Salona until nearly 400 years later, when they invaded and destroyed the city in the year 639 AD. Two years later Pope John IV translated the relics of St. Venantius to the Lateran Basilica in Rome to protect them from the invading Slavs. Despite these historical facts, St. Vanantius is today presented as a “Croatian saint” merely because the territory in which he died is today occupied by the state of Croatia.

The absurd historical revisionism and theft of Latin heritage by the Croats evidently knows no bounds. Perhaps this is their idea of an April Fools' joke?