The Matrimonio Selargino, spouses enchained for the rest of the life

On the second Sunday of September, the centre of Selargius (Campidano) get crowded to assist at the antique ritual of the Campidanese wedding, launched in the XVIII century but revalued in the Sixties. An auctioneer announces the event during the week.

The rituals officially start on the following day, with the traditional visit of the groom's relatives to bride's house, in order to admire the dowry that will then be transported to the spouses' dwelling, where the two mothers prepare the wedding bed.

Sunday morning begins with the clothing ritual of the two spouses in the Selargius' costume. Then, the groom arrives to the house of the bride, from where the procession starts directing to the town's streets: beside friends and relatives, farmers and many tourists join in.

Women in costume carry baskets full of breads and homemade sweets. The players of “launeddas” (a typical Sardinian ancient wind instrument, made with three canes) cheer the participants and the “traccas”, floats towed by oxes and adorned with flowers, accompany with the typical cowbells' noise.

At the end of the Mass, the groom wear on the little finger of the left hand a ring of a chain, linked to the bride's waist that represents the insolubility of the sacrament. Tied up in this way, the spouses go to their new house, where at the entrance the two mothers break against the floor the plates containing grain, coins and salt, in sign of prosperity and good health. Then, a great feast follows with thousands of attendants.