Events and Peasant Feasts in Sardinia

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Events and Peasant Feasts in Sardinia

To have an idea of Sardinia’s rich pageant of folklore and traditions, have a look at the calendar of events, considered among the most important and spectacular. The majority of these feasts originated from the combination of sacred celebrations and folkloristic events, and taking part in one of these offers the opportunity to see concentrated in a single event costumes and habits coming from every part of Sardinia, and to appreciate the rich musical repertory influenced by the peculiar sound of physharmonika and launeddas. And why not, these feasts are also a good opportunity to taste the local specialties which are otherwise difficult to find elsewhere.

Festa di Sant’Efisio – Cagliari (1st to 4th May ): a feast dedicated to the Saint that saved the city from the terrible pestilence of 1675. a procession takes place on the 1st , starting from the district of Stampace with the simulacrum, and terminating in the little church of Nora, where,on the 4th it starts its journey back to the Cagliari. The parade accompanying the procession is a good chance to admire some typical dresses coming from various parts of Sardinia.

Festa di Sant'Efisio - Cagliari

Cavalcata sarda (Sardinian horse ride) – Sassari (penultima Sunday of May): a historic parade of some folkloristic groups coming from all parts of the island, with performances by acrobats on horseback. This is one of the few laic feasts.
Sagra del Redentore – Nuoro (last weekend of August): this feast commemorates the laying down of the Redentor’s statue on top of Mount Ortobene, in 1900. In addition to religious events, this feast offers parades in typical dresses and dances.
Setmana santa – Alghero: a series of suggestive events anticipating the Holy Week and culminating with the mass recited in local dialect.
Lunissanti – Castelsardo (Monday of the Holy Week before Easter): the most fascinating element of this feast are the choirs of the Confraternita di Santa Croce, a multisecular confraternity which attracts more and more music experts from all parts of the world. The 22 protagonists of these celebrations wear long white tunics. The face of the 12 singing apostles is unveiled, while the 10 silent apostles wear a cappuccino showing only their eyes. The scenical effect is guaranteed by this solemn atmosphere which reminds of the ancestral ceremonies carried out the ancient religious orders, while the combination of sacred and profane songs reminds everybody of the ludical and social aspect of it all.
If you visit Sardinia in February/March, you may assist to some very original celebrations dedicated to Carnival:
Sartiglia – Oristano (last Sunday and last day of Carnival): this is a spectacular horse race with historic dresses, left in heritage by the Catalans and considered as the most genuine event of its kind.
Karrasegare – Bosa: the carnival in Bosa is very funny and creative. During Carnival Thursday (the day before Good Friday) some masked groups of people go house by house, singing funny happy songs and being rewarded with food, which they will use for the final dinner. On Saturday all the proprietors offer wine and local dishes to the people present. Finally, on Thursday, all participants wear mourning holding a doll, symbol of the Carnival. The feast ends with dances and great fires.

Carnevali of Mamoiada, Ottana, Orotelli e Samugheo: among the most beautiful of Sardinia, and maybe the most suggestive of the whole Mediterranean. These Carnivals represent the ancient relationship between man and nature, with propitiatory rituals. Each of these Carnivals have their own masks and dresses (Mamuthones and Issohadores in Mamoiada, Thurpos in Orotelli, Boes and Merdules in Ottana, Mamutzones and Urtzu in Samugheo) but all of them reproduce the pair animal/guardian or ox/farmer. The masks often hold some bells, which serve to keep away the obscure and malign forces.
The suggestive atmosphere make these Carnivals really unique.