Carnival 2009 in Sardinia
Lots of villages celebrate the arrival of the Carnival through masked parades, horse races, country dances and singing.
According to sardinian customs, the Carnival starts the 17th of January in correspondance to S.Antonio Abate celebrations and it carries on till the Ash Wednesday. Do not miss the Carnival of Mamoiada, the peculiar Carnival of Bosa, the playful karnival of Santu Lussurgiu and the most popular and expected one in Oristano.
The Carnival of Mamoiada is among the oldest folkloric events in Sardinia. It is a heartfelt happening, a moment of intense popular participation for the whole village whose inhabitants gather in the main square to dance all evening long “su passu torràu”, “su sàrtiu” and “su dillu”.
On the last Sunday and the last Tuesday of the carnival in Oristano it takes place the famous “Sa Sartiglia”, an old equestrian relaxing game of the XVI century. The protagonist of the manifestation is “Su Componidori”, an enigmatic figure, attractive because of the gorgeousness of his androgen mask which guides the other knights. Organized from two Gremi or Corporations, on Sunday from the countrymen and on Tuesday from the carpenters, Sa Sartiglia begins with the dandification of the chief runner by young ladies in traditional costumes, called “is massaieddas”. Proceeded by the “Bettenieri” and by the tambourines behind the masked cavaliers, “Su Componidori” crosses the city blessing the population with “Sa Pippa e Maju”. (Springtime flowers). The event takes place in via del Duomo where a star hangs on a green silk cordon in which the knights must impale their swords running galloping on their horses. Counting the impaled stars they decide the auspices for the next year.
Stefano Loi – Betogo, The travelling Community – Via Mestre 11 – 07026 – Olbia (OT) – Italy Tel. 0789.641074 – fax 0789.66049 – Email: sloi@betogo.com – website: www.betogo.com