Festa of Sant’Antonio Abate ( 16th January; venue: throughout Sardinia). Enormous bonfires to commemorate Saint Antonio’s feat. It is believed that he went down the hell to bring fire back to the earth which was then lined with ice. The bonfire is the common denominators to all celebrations around the island. The local priest blesses it and locals meet around it while they talk, share and swap cakes. In the evening people enjoy typical music and dance of the island with the fire still burning. It remains lit for another day. Each village gives the celebration its own hallmark. The fiesta has a particular difference in Mamoiada, in the province of Nuoro, as it is the moment when Mamuntones, very ancient carnival masks of the Barbagia regions, participate in a procession along the street. The Mamuntones symbolize the bounding between man animal; the Mamuntones’ dancing step is a unique feature. While they parade, the cowbells hanging from their chests ring loudly.
Sa Sartiglia in Oristano (often at the end of February though it varies, Sunday and Tuesday of carnival) Carnival and ancient equestrian tournament in which the winner will be Su Componidori, the man who holds a mask of a god and thrusts a star with his sword . The horsemen compete for the ring and the star, by galloping and standing on his saddle thrusts the star. If he gets it he will parade along the street while the people cheer.
Easter (Good Friday; venue: in the old part of town in Alghero and all cities throughout the island as well as Italy) Procession in which Jesus’ passion is reenacted. Actors and people along the procession take part in them. Among them the one celebrated in Alghero is the most picturesque. Alghero’s street lights turn red with muslin covers them to evoke the atmosphere.
Artichoke Festival (second Sunday in March; venue: Uri, north western Sardinia) festival themed on artichokes and recipes prepared with it. Uri has hosted the event since 1990 now. And each time more and more people feel attracted to it.
Cavalcata Sarda (third Sunday of May; venue: Sassari) Folk groups in traditional costumes: red for the Barbagia region, green for Campidano, blue for Sulcis and black for Gallura representing each region in this parade. Beyond the typical common denominator of embroidery and jewel, costumes differ in details to distinguish one region from the others. A veil or shawl, a pleated long skirt and embroidered apron for women and black trousers and waist-coat, white shirt with puffy sleeves and beret for men are the common denominator. The parade starts in the lounge of Sassari (square). There are equestrian shows and displays in the horse race course in the afternoon and folk dance and music in the evening. The festival took place for the first time when Umberto I and Marguerite of Savoy visited the island at the end of the 19th century but only in the mid 20th century a group of locals decided to re-enact it to welcome a group of people to Sardinia. From then on it has been part of the fixed celebrations year after year. It is reckoned by locals a welcome of spring.
La Mattanza ( 29th May- 3rd June; venue: Carloforte) The traditional way of catching of bluefin tuna by means of dense nets. A complete school of bluefin fish is caught while water becomes red in what many consider a killing spree. A teamwork by men facing nature.
Cherries festival ( June; venue: Belvi in the province of Nuoro) Festival focusing on cherries from the Gennargentu area and caschettas (traditional regional sweets made of transparent thin pastry stuffed with fruity paste).
L’Ardia (6th and 7th July; venue: Sedilo (OR) and Pozzomaggiore (SA)). Horse race commemorating San Costatino. Danger and a spiritual side join in it. Costantino is not included on the list of saints by the Catholic Church, yet this saint’s day and festival which honour the Christian values is of importance for the town and village. The race consists of hundreds of horsemen parading and then competing at fast speed to the Church of San Costantino and then around it three or 7 times in pairs or groups of three. At the front are the first three horsemen led by a white horse whose rider takes the colours of san Costantino. The following horsemen of each group cannot catch up with the leading man, otherwise it would be understood as a negative prophetic sign of Christian principles’ failure. The race is preceded by a mass in the most important church, a procession of horsemen and a music band that will go to the Church of San Costatino where they will place his statue back . In the evening there is music and entertainment.
The Regatta of Is Fassonis (August; venue: Cabras in the province of Oristano) a tournament in competitors row an Is Fassonis, an ancient gondola-like hand made boat of local bulrush. The competition is followed by fish barbeques and Vernaccia, the typical regional wine.
Archers' Tournament ( 7th August ; venue: Iglesias, southern Sardinia) a competition in which 24 archers dressing period costume re-enact the historic siege to Iglesias led by Alfonso D’Aragona in the 14th century. History narrates that one of the knights of the Spanish king, Castellano D’Imposta, died because of an arrow thrown by an archer of the wall, who, in turn, died because an arrow came directly in his eye. The town resisted for 8 months, even though they were a thousand men and 128 archers and the army that laid siege to Iglesias was composed of about 20 thousand soldiers. A week after the tournament the Middle Ages is again re-enacted in the medieval parade on 13th August.
The Festival of the Redentore ( Sunday before 29th August; venue: Nuoro) Picturesque procession of carts, carriages and folkloric groups in typical Sardinian clothing. A jury chooses the best group to compete in the final on 29th August. Then they show their dance and music. Early on 29th August there is a procession starting in the cathedral and finishing in the 7m high statue of the Jesus Christ in Mount Ortobene. Since it was erected there in 1901 this festival has taken place yearly.
Festival of San Salvatore (the 1st weekend of September; venue: Cabras) a very ancient Sardinian 7-km race taking place at sunrise, when barefoot young runners dressed in a white robe, take San Salvatore ‘s statue from the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Cabras) to the Church of San Salvatore in the countryside off Tharros near Oristano. This church was erected where in former times there was an underground pagan holy place in honour of water. Next Sunday the race takes place again but the statue is taken back to the church where it was originally. The celebration honours the fact that the statue survived a Saracen attack in the 16th century. Grilled fish and Vernaccia end up the celebration in the evening.
Typical Sardinian Wedding ( 2nd week of September; venue: Church of San Giuliano, Selargius (CA)) A return to traditions by modern couples who follow ancient rituals and wear typical and ancient wedding clothing. Each member of the couple writes a message on a pergamena which will be then be handed down to their children after 25 years. The ceremony ends up with the couple being enchained as a representation of their bonding. It is followed by everyone in town participating in traditional garments. The town is bedecked with flowers everywhere. The islanders’ music and dance end up the day.
Chestnut Festival (end of October for 3 days; venue: Aritzo, in Barbagia) Tasting of chestnut and other regional products such as cheese, home baked bread and carapigna, the traditional sorbet which in Aritzo gets its unique flavour. The celebration also has music and arts and crafts display.
