The descent of the “Candelieri” to reiterate the vow of Sassari

The Candelieri (lit. feast of people who carry the candles) feast animates Sassari on the Assumption Day. 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 - called “Faradda” in the dialect of Sassari), carrying huge wooden votive candles on their shoulders and beating the rhythm out in honor of Our Lady of the Assumption. Children do the same with candles in miniature.

The Candelieri feast draws dozen thousand visitors, who crowd round the course which begins from the Castello square and arrives to the church of Santa Maria di Betlem, where the sitting 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 in the yard of the Palazzo ducale (Ducal Palace), takes place the delivery ceremony of the gold and silver Candelieri to the personalities (not only inhabitants of Sassari) who have better represented the town out of Sardinia.