Festivals 2006
January 2006
Su ramasinu (January, Siniscola): in the days that precede the festivity of Sant’Antonio Abbot, fixed on the 16th January, the farmers of the zone collect stubs and branches for the bonfires dedicated to the Saint, and they transport them till the town with tractors adorned for the festivity, sometimes covered with sheepskins.
San Sebastiano (19th - 20th January, Gergei): the cult of the martyr of the III A.D. goes back to the end of the 1600's. The faithfuls addressed to him to eradicate the plague that was exterminating the population. The farmers instead, addressed to San Sebastiano in order to protect the harvests. In Escolca the cult of this Saint is ascertained since 1840: he is considered now, the patron Saint of young people and also of animals.
February
San Biagio (3rd February, Gergei): traditional blessing of the bunches of fruits and flowers tied up with the sessini, a swamp plant. “Sos sessineddos”, to which is tied also a sort of averting ill luck necklace (of clear Pagan origin), is carried by children, that open the procession with the simulacrum of the Saint conveyed by a cart and, on the eve, they collect the firewood with which will be lighted a great bonfire.
Sartiglia (26-28 Oristano, Carnival Sunday): it is one of the most important folkloristic events of Sardinia. It goes back to the presence of the Aragoneses in the region of Arborea. “Su Componidori” and other knights in costume riding a horse, will have to center with a sword a star hanging by a thread. Follow ability tests.
Carnival Barbaricino (23-28 February, Barbagie): in the carnival's week, in some towns of Barbagie, it is celebrated with great events in squares involving its most mysterious characters. Mamoiada: parade of the Mamuthones, men wearing skin of sheep or goat and wooden masks with a cruel expression, dance at the sound of the cowbells that they carry on the shoulders. With them also the issokadores. Orotelli: the Thurpos, dressed in black with a hood on their head, blackened face and carrying on the shoulders a cluster of cowbells, parade through the town and involving the spectators who crowd the roads of the center. Octane: the Merdules and the Boes, who wear wooden masks and skins goat, propose scenes of the agropastoral life.
Carnevale Tempiese (23-28 February, Tempio Pausania): the citizen of Gallura boast great traditions on the subject of carnival, that is celebrated for a week with dances and manifestations involving the whole population and the numerous tourists. Very tasty, the many typical sweets of the carnival period. The peak of the dances is reached on Thursday before Lent (23th February) and on Shrove Tuesday (28th February).
Laldaggiolu (23-28 February, Bosa): carnival is one of the most important appointments of Bosa. A week before Thursday before Lent takes place the so-called paraded of the Laldaggiolu, with masked groups that parade through the streets of the town asking the townsmen and the tourists symbolic compensations in order to perform popular songs.
Sa carrela ‘e nanti (26-28 February, Santu Lussurgiu): “Sa carrela 'e nanti” is one of the most important horse race in Sardinia. Thousand visitors come to Santu Lussurgiu to attend the trials on the main road of the town. Masked knights, alone or in pairs, throw in a feverish race in long and sloping streets. many are the folk and the wine and food events of great impact: do not miss the performances of the local choruses, among which we remember the Su Concordu 'e su Rosariu.
March
Pentolaccia (5th March, Sant’Andrea Frius): on the Sunday following the Ash Wednesday, in this town of Gerrei, takes place the custom of the “pentolaccia” with the traditional horses.
Sagra degli agrumi (March, Muravera): it is possible to buy inexpensive boxes of oranges, mandarin oranges, clementines and lemons.
April
Sagra de “is tallarinus nuraddesusu” (17th April, Nurallao): on Easter Monday, in the Park of Funtana Is Arinus, takes place a festival dedicated to the food and wine specialties of the town: tasty handmade tagliatelle flavoured with a savoury sauce.
San Salvatore (18th April, Uras): on the occasion of the festivity dedicated to San Salvatore, takes place the awaited “cursa de on pannu” (that means “the run of the cloth”), that ended with the award of a cloth the knight who breaks first the tape on the back of his horse.
Sa die de sa Sardigna (28th April, Cagliari): this manifestation is called “National festivity of the Sardinian People”; it remembers the revolts of 1794, i.e. the expulsion of the Piedmontese officials from Sardinia. Hundreds of figurants revive in the Castle of Cagliari the moments of the Sardinian revolt against the Savoy oppressors.
Monumenti Aperti (Open Monuments, 29-30 April, Cagliari): thanks to 2.500 volunteers of the cultural and civil associations, beside the schools, 100 monuments of the Sardinian capital are open to the public. Concerts and shows in the most fascinating sites are expected.
Sagra del cascà (April, Carloforte): tasting of a typical dish in the gastronomy of the island of San Pietro.May
Su tusorju (May, Onifai): the sheep shearing constitutes one of the crowd-pulling events of Onifai. The date is variable, since the appointment is bound to the climate.
Sant’Isidoro (15th May, Senorbì): in the town of Trexenta the patron of the farmers is celebrated, with a parade of adorned tractors through the roads of the town. Under the present circumstance, it is possible to admire tapestries and other products of the local handicraft.
Sagra della pecora (20th - 21th May, Nurallao): the Park of Funtana Is Arinus hosts tastings of typical dishes and a procession of farmers of the area, that parade on “traccas” (adorned carts pulled by oxes) and tractors adorned with garlands of flowers.
La cavalcata sarda (21th May, Sassari): it is one of the most important folkloric appointments of Sardinia, for which meet 200 knights and more than 70 groups from all over the Island, that parade through the streets of Sassari on horseback, on foot and on the “traccas” (adorned carts pulled by oxes) accompanied by the sound of the Sardinian traditional instruments. At the racecourse Pinna are propose also the “pariglie”, acrobatic races on the horses. Great closing in Piazza Italia, with a show of dances and Sardinian songs, till all hours.
Sant’Isidoro (22th May, Mandas): a week after Senorbì, Mandas as well, celebrates the Saint venerated in Trexenta.
Sagra della pecora (end May-beginning June, Tratalias): the shepherds of the zone show to the tourists their ability in the shearing and they perform in a competition. It is also possible to assist to the making of cheese and ricotta. During the day are also scheduled tastings of typical dishes and wines.
June
Fiera del cavallo (2nd June, San Leonardo - fraction of Santu Lussurgiu): it attracts numerous tourists and horses lovers, in particular of the Anglo-Arab-Sardinian race. The Fair organized in this town is one of the unmissable appointments, by virtue of the great tradition that is handed on from generation to generation (look at Handicraft).
San Mauro (4th June, Sorgono): in the rustic sanctuary, a great throng of people take part to the solemn Mass. Thousands of people participate to the manifestations in program, among which the Palio of San Mauro, Sardinian songs and dances in square, tasting of agricultural and food- products, shows about the sanctuary and the ancient traditions.
Santa Caterina d’Alessandria (4th June, Orroli): from the parochial church starts a procession of faithfuls that follow the simulacrum of the Saint until the rustic church, not far from the nuragh of Arrubiu. Men on the horsebacks and traccas (adorned carts pulled by axes) follow the cortège, in honor of the martyred Saint in Alexandria of Egypt in the IV century A.D. The celebrations last three days.
Sa Tundidroxa (June, Selargius): the festival of the sheep shearing, called “sa tundidroxa”, it allows the visitors to discover the techniques of the ovines breeders.
Girotonno (June, Carloforte): the one in program at the beginning of June is one of the most important manifestations of Carloforte, a gastronomic appointment that has the tuna fish as guest of honor (fished in the sea that washes the island). The fish is proposed in accordance with the thousand recipes of the local tradition.
Antiche tradizioni (June, Lunamatrona): in the town of Marmilla are recovered the games of the ancient traditions of Sardinia, like the “badrunfa” (a whirligig that turns through a string) and “su tirollasticu” (slings shooting competition).
San Simone (June, Escolca): in the village of San Simone, in the locality of Nuraxi, the little church dedicated to the Saint receives the worshippers who meet fifty days after Easter, to set up a peasant festivity that lasts from the sunset to the sunrise of the day after.
Mostra Mercato del Cavallo (June, Laconi): an crowd-pulling appointment for the horses lovers.
Sagra delle Ciliegie (June, Burcei): thousands of visitors go to this mountain locality of the Sarrabus to buy the great and tasty cherries of the zone.
Sagra di San Pieto Apostolo (end of June-beginning July, Sant’Antioco): five days of celebrations in waterside of the citizen, that culminate with the procession in the sea of the simulacrum of the Saint. The tourists can taste free the fish prepared by the fishermen.
July
San Sebastiano (2nd July, Desulo): the calves marking takes place in the Park where was built the little rustic church dedicated to the Saint, that always attracts many people from all over Sardinia.
Ardia di Sedilo (6th - 7th July, Sedilo): festivity of ancient tradition that reaches its peak in a feverish horse race, in the valley dominated by the sanctuary of San Costantino Imperatore. The head of the race it gives the starting signal leaving unexpectedly from the promontory that rears the church: he starts his horse off at a full gallop, along the slope that leads to the narrow Arco di Costantino, and the other riders dash in pursuit.
Ardia di Pozzomaggiore (7th July, Pozzomaggiore): spectacular equestrian exhibition with Anglo-Arab-Sardinian horse started off at full gallop.
San Palmerio martire (10th July, Ghilarza): the main festivity of this citizen of the Montiferru schedules the visit to the grave of the Saint, inside the church dedicated to him. Planned musical, folkloric and sport manifestations, like the exhibition of typical and artistic products.
Santa Barbara (July, Capoterra): on the mounts, near the residential complex of Poggio dei Pini, during the first week of July is celebrated the saint to which has been dedicated the little rural church. Around it there are some houses going back to the nineteenth century, only partially refurbished, which form a semi-abandoned village.
Sagra dei cruguxionis (July, Baradili): on the occasion of the festivities of the patron Santa Margherita, in Baradili, takes place the festival of the ravioli, which is particularly famous.
Regata dei “fassonis” (end July – beginning August, Santa Giusta pond): for the traditional regatta of the “fassonis” measure in an heated competition the boats built with weavings of mat-rushes, used in the regions of Arborea and in the Sinis Peninsula.
Tebajus (July, Segariu): this festival renders homage to the ancient tradition of the tebajus, the craftsmen that – until some decades ago – were famous for the production of sardinian roof-tiles, made with a mix of clay and straw. It is possible to visit an exhibition of typical products and a show of the local handicraft.
Sa pezza de craba (July, San Vito): the goat meat testing attracts every year many visitors and gourmets.
Sagra del pane (July, Burcei): tasting of the bread baked in the traditional wood-burning oven.
August
Santa Maria della Neve (5th August, Cuglieri): the faithfuls repeat an ultra-millenary appointment, i.e. The procession dedicated to the Madonna della Neve, whose statue (according to legend) was uncovered on 5th August 358 A.D. by some fishermen, on the beach of Santa Caterina di Pittinuri. The simulacrum of the Madonna is carried on a cart pulled by oxes, from the Basilica of Cuglieri till the rustic church.
San Costantino (5th August, Genoni): from centuries, the population of this town of Sarcidano venerate San Costantino. In the Mount Santu Antine, where was built the homonym chapel, takes place a festival to which rush many visitors.
Sagra della Vernaccia (6th August, Baratili San Pietro): it is the great show of the Vernaccia (a wine similar to liqueur), one of the specialities of the province of Oristano.
S’Angelu (7th August, Neonèli): in the area of the church of the Angelo, rural building set at the entrance of the town, takes place on the first Monday of August the “festa de s'Angelu”, of pastoral origin. A big banquet involve the whole population. Sardinian dances and songs extend well into the night.
Fondazione di Santa Teresa di Gallura (12th August, Santa Teresa di Gallura): at this in date is celebrated the anniversary of the town foundation, wanted by Vittorio Emanuele I di Savoia in 1808. In the streets of the center takes place a procession, in which parade hundreds of figurants in period costumes.
I Candelieri (14th August, Sassari):According to the tradition, this feast was born to thank the Virgin of releasing the town from a terrible plague, that took place in the sixteenth century (the date is uncertain) and that decimated the population. Late in the afternoon of the 14th August, the “Gremi” (the nine merchant gilds of Sassari) parade through the streets of the center according to the custom of the “Discesa” (Descent), carrying huge wooden votive candles on their shoulders and beating the rhythm out in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption. The Mayor and the “obriere” (the most important figure of the “Gremio dei Massai” farmers) release the vow of the town to Our Lady of the Assumption. In the evening the delivery ceremony of the gold and silver Candelieri.
Santa Maria Assunta (15th August, Domusnovas): four days before the mid-August holiday, a cart shuttles between the countryside and the town with a loading of firewood collected by people who intend to take part at the final drawing, in program on the 15th August: the lucky one drawn, will get the considerable amount of firewood collected in those days. In exchange he will have to offer a banquet to all the participants.
Palio dell’Assunta (15th August, Guasila): on mid-August holiday, in this town of Trexenta there is a big feast: beside the religious rituals in the parish church dedicated to the Virgin of the Assumption, it is in program the Palio dell’Assunta which attracts many visitors and participant. The manifestation, which takes place in the municipal gallop, is considered one of the most important regional appointment among those that schedule the so-called “corsa a pelo”, according to the consolidated sardinian tradition.
Sagra de Sa Suppa siniscolesa (August, Siniscola): this festival gives the chance of tasting “sa suppa”, one of the local traditional dishes. A gastronomic event that we suggest you to do not miss if you are in the Baronie.
Sagra dell’artigianato (August, Castiadas): esposizione e vendita dei prodotti tipici del Sarrabus, Sagra dell’artigianato (August, Castiadas): exhibition and sell of the typical products of Sarrabus, in the parc of the ex-management of the penal colony. It is possible to buy and to taste agroindustrial products and various handiworks.
Beata Vergine di Bonaria (20th August, Marceddì and Terralba): procession by sea in honor of the Beata Vergine di Bonaria. The simulacrum of the Madonna, protectress of the fishermen and of the sailors, is transported on a boat to invoke protection in the sea.
San Lussorio (21 August, Santu Lussurgiu): the patron of the town is celebrated with some religious and civil events, among which songs and dances in square and an exposition of typical local products.
Sant’Agostino (28th August, from Nurachi to San Giovanni di Sinis): is renewed the devotion to Sant’Agostino marching on foot for 18 kilometers, and going also through Cabras. I novenanti rest in the “cumbessias”, the characteristic houses that in the past very built near the sanctuaries.
Rassegna dei campanari (August, Irgoli): the best stringed bell players meet in Irgòli and originate a romantic and spectacular challenge.
Festival dell’organetto (end August – beginning September, Irgòli): this locality of the Baronìe hosts an interational festival to which take part many organ grinders. This folkloric exhibition attracts thousands of visitors.
Sciampitta (August, Quartu Sant’Elena): traditional appointment of folklore, music, songs and traditional dances, with groups coming also from other regions of Italy and from abroad.
Palio di Fonni (August, Fonni): at the gallop of San Cristoforo meet thousands of spectators and the best riders of Sardinia. The race with final prices is enriched by an interlude of pairs, acrobatic shows (individually or in groups) on the horses started off at a full gallop.
Sagra de Sa Carapigna (August, Aritzo): from some years it is come back into vogue the festivity of the “carapigna”, a testy sorbet ice, which already in the seventeenth century, was prepared in this locality of the Barbagie.
Su nènniri (end August, Barisardo): Saint John the Baptist is celebrated late in this locality of Ogliastra in comparison with his birth (which falls on 24th June), with a fascinating cerimony called of “su nènniri”. A procession in the sea ends with the throw of flowers and corn buds.
San Raimondo (31st August, Bono): in this località of Goceano is preserved an ancient tradition. On the day of the celebrations of San Raimondo, a cart transports until the little church dedicated to the Saint, the biggest pumpkin reaped in the surrounding countrysides, which is given to the rider who came last at the horses race that takes place the same day.
Mostra del Mercato isilese (end August-beginning September, Isili): large exhibition of the traditional local products, among which carpets, tapestries, blankets, working of copper, iron and wood, the goldsmith’s art).
Sa pezza de craba (August, Burcei): festival of the goat meat, with tastings.
La caccia alla giovenca (August, Guasila): on the occasion of the celebrations of Santa Maria, in the fields is freed a calf, symbol of the fields fertility. The bachelors of the town have to catch it by the horns, without touching the ears, and whith the help of a lace. The prist of Santa Maria Assunta blesses the calf in square of the church. The winner gets a red hankerchief in silk, as auspice for the marriage.
Settembre
Santa Prisca (1st –3 September, Pau): on the 2nd, in the morning, from the church of San Giorgio, the faithfuls in procession go throgh the whole inhabited center and arrive in the near contryside, where rises the little rural church dedicated to the Saint. In the afternoon they go back to the town to start the civil celebrations.
Corsa degli Scalzi (2nd –3 September, Cabras): from ages the faithfufs of San Salvatore, wearing a white habit, carry on thier shoulders the simulacrum of the Saint at run: barefoot, from the village of San Salvatore to Cabras. The day after they do it in the opposite direction.
Santa Reparata (10th September, Santa Teresa di Gallura): since 1808 is celebrated the martyr, killed in the III century A.D. during the persecutions ordered by the roman Emperor Decio.
Santa Vittoria (11th September, Giara di Serri): the Sait, who gives the name to an important archaeological site, is celebrated with a festival very popular in the whole Sarcidano.
San Salvatore (12th September, Perdasdefogu): a procession of faithfuls follows the simulacrum of San Salvatore till the little rustic church dedicated to him, carring “su pannu”: two interlaced canes covered with coloured cloths, symbolizing the “ex voto” of the farmers who, in the past, addressed to the Saint to ask him to protect the cultivations.
Sant’Elena Imperatrice (14th September, Quartu Sant’Elena): once the population of Quartu addressed to Sant’Elena for having abounding harvests. Today the simulacrum parades through the streets of the town on board of a coach, accompanied by the faithfuls and folkloric groups.
Santa Greca (24th September, Decimomannu): this festival, born to celebrate the coronation of the Saint in 1928, lasts three days and attracts thousands of people from the whole Campidano.
Madonna di Gonare (September, Orani and Sarule): the two towns celebrate the Madonna of Gonare who, in accordance with an ancient tradition, protects the cultivations. Every year, the boarding towns (which are at a distance of 7 kilometers) alternate in the accomodation of one of the most awaited events of Nuorese.
October
Sagra della lumaca / Festival of the snail (15 October, Gesico): on the third Sunday of October, every year, this festival attracts thousands of tourists in the locality of Trexenta. Here, it will be possible to taste the traditional plates of the local cuisine
November
Santa Anastasia (12 November, Sardara): this festivity is related to the ancient cult of water. Next to the church dedicated to Santa Anastasia, there is a fountain named Funtana de is Dolus that, centuries ago, used to be utilize to establish if someone was innocence or guilty.
Sagra del pane e dell'olio d'oliva / Festival of the bread and of the olive oil (end of November, Seneghe): the bread cooked in a firewood furnace and the virgin or extra-virgin olive oil produced from the oil mill in Oristano, an union that attracts thousand of gourmet to the town of Seneghe. Visits to the oil mills can also be planned.
