My Sardinia

Sardinian festivals are an unusual mix of the religious and the secular; that the island still celebrates these events in honor of saints as well as the cycles of nature means a wide variety of cultural events that can be witnessed. These festivals have remained largely intact over the years, as Sardinians are known particularly for their cultural pride. They have, in fact, become tourist draws and it is not unusual for the local population to swell during these times due to the influx of visitors.

August seems to be the height of these festivals, with the most prominent of Sardinian festivals, the I Candelieri, happening from August 14 to August 15, which is also the Feast of the Assumption. The I Candelieri has its origins in the Middle Ages and represents perfectly the marriage of religious and secular celebrations. During the festival, local gremi (farmers and artisans) dressed in their traditional garb, parade through town bearing nine giant wooden candlesticks (thus the name of the festival). The candlesticks are decked out in flowers and ribbons and represent the nine guilds of the gremi. These candlesticks are dedicated to the Virgin Mary; tradition says the festival is held every year to give thanks for the town’s survival from three plagues in the 1600s, which nearly decimated the local population.

The I Candelieri is often a noisy affair, with the constant beating of drums and the hum of the large crowd that gather for the annual event. Food also marks the festival, with the serving of monzette – slow-roasted giant snails.

The I Candelieri happens in the towns of Sassari. In addition to the I Candelieri, festivals such as the barefoot race during the Fiesta di San Salvatore in Oristano, the Ardia horserace in Sedilo, and the bonfire celebrations of the Festa di Sant’Antonio Abate are among the exciting Sardinian events to witness.