Festivals and Traditions in Sardinia
Amongst the most important that we can mention are those linked to Carnival, like the “Mamoida Carnival” in January, where the “Mamuthones” parade (wearing wooden funereal masks and dressed in shepherd’s clothing with a bunch of 30/40 cowbells hung on their backs).
These figures symbolize the conquered people and they move forward with bent heads while the “Issocadores” or winners dance around them using rope to try and capture the spectators. In the evening piles of wood are burnt and danced around in honour of the God of Fire.
Sartiglia is an ancient festival which takes place every year at Oristano on the last Sunday of Carnival and on Shrove Tuesday. There are equestrian tournaments (of Catalan origin) during which skilful horseriders try to pierce a silver star fixed to a ribbon. The success of the New Year harvest depends on the number of stars pierced. When the tournament is over you can watch other equestrian games of great skill which are called “le pariglie”.
Holy Week in Sardinia presents some interesting displays like those of Castelsardo and Alghero. On Holy Monday, Castelsardo celebrates the “Festa di Lunissanti” which consists of a torchlight procession as far as “Abbazia di S. Maria a Tergu” (The Abbey of S. Maria in Tergu) of men dressed in white who strike up ancient holy hymns.
On Good Friday in Alghero, a long procession of the faithful holding torches parade behind the crucifix in the Catalan centre as far as the church where the ritual of the deposition of the cross is commemorated.
Every year since 1657, on 1 May, Cagliari celebrates its patron Saint, S. Efisio, with a magnificent procession which sees a sacred image of The Saint hoisted up onto an ox cart, leave the main area of Stampace and arrive at the village of Pula 30km away and return to the city on 4 May followed by many of the faithful, some of whom follow the procession barefoot.
This celebration originates from a vow made by the people of Cagliari to their Patron Saint for having saved the city from a terrible plague.
At Sassari on the penultimate Sunday in May there is a folklore display (of civilian origin) called the “Cavalcata Sarda”. It’s a procession of horseriders and groups in traditional costume who come from all over Sardinia.
There are exhibitions of skilful equestrianism, Sardinian dances and typical Sardinian choirs until late into the night.
At Sedilo on 6 and 7 July, in honour of the Emperor S. Costantino, there is a daring horserace called “l’Ardia” which takes place around the Sanctuary.
In order to remain faithful to a vow made to Our Lady of The Assumption many centuries ago during an epidemic of The Plague, every year on 14 May in Sassari there is the parade of the 9 candelieri, that is very heavy wooden candlesticks representing the small town guilds (gremi).
To the music of pipes and drums the skilful bearers begin the descent (faradda) from the high part of the city to the church of S. Maria of Betlem. For a couple of hours they dance supporting the wooden candlesticks and are cheered on by the crowd that follows them.
On 29 August at Nuoro “la sagra del Redentore” (The Festival of the Redeemer) takes place. Its origin dates back to the early 900’s when the statue of Christ the Redeemer was placed on the summit of Ortobene mountain. The procession leaves from Nuoro and there are groups in traditional costume who come from all over Sardinia.
On the first Saturday of September in Cabras is the Corsa degli Scalzi (The Barefoot Race). The principal characters are a group of young people who, dressed in white tunics, carry whilst running, the statue of S. Salvatore to the Sanctuary of the village of the same name.
In the second week of September in Bosa, Nostra Signora di Regnos Altos is celebrated with a procession in the lanes of the Old Town, where the faithful prepare small altars adorned with flowers and drapes in honour of the Madonna. On Saturday night all the town celebrates until dawn and the religious rites end with music and the tasting of typical products.