My Sardinia

While the rest of the world feasts, Sardinians actually fast as Christmas draws near. They deprive themselves of food from the sunset of the 23rd of December until the sunset of the 2th. The feast only begins afterwards, as the great Yule Log is kindled and all the songs and prayers are done. This sacred ritual is performed around the Presepio, the crib where the feast begins.

The Sardinians enjoys delicacies such as boiled pasta, sweet bread, eels and larks. They also have what’s called a Torrone, which is a kind of nougat.

It is believed that on the 6th of January, the children are visited by La Befana, a woman who was preoccupied with cleaning her house that she was not able to join the three wise men in their trip to Bethlehem. Some even believe that La Befana is a witch. It is customary that the children hang stockings which La Befana will be filling up with toys and gifts, much like Santa Claus does.

It is not uncommon during Christmas time that Sardinia be filled with the earthy aromas of nature. Orange blossoms are a predominant scent in Sardinia’s Christmas season, and even the landscape of the place is luminescent with orange tree branches which are laden with white blossoms.

Despite the winter, Sardinia remains colorful with various shades of red, blue and white from various fruits, flowers and berries. These colors have become an intrinsic part of the holiday season and spring festivals in Sardinia, where men and women adorn themselves with orange colored costumes and carry around with them branches of berries and blossoms.

The sounds of the launeddas is carried through the air during these folk festivals as ox drawn carriages parade around with baskets filled with oranges and various pastries in front of excited crowds.