St Efisio
1-4 May
Cagliari
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In 1652 Sardinia was stuck by the plague. Half the population of Cagliari died. The people prayed to Efisio di Elia, a martyred saint who had been beheaded in 303AD.
Efisio was the commanding officer of a garrison of the Roman army which was in Sardinia to suppress Christian communities on the island.
But after Efisio had a vision similar to the one Paul had on the way to Damascus, he changed from persecutor into the most ardent follower of Christ. When he was asked to deny the Christian Faith he refused and was put to death on the beach at Nora.
In honour of their saint, the people of Cagliari will proudly tell you, that this is the biggest and most colorful religious procession in the world. Any traveler wanting to witness a "real" festival that is deeply felt by locals should consider going to Sardinia for this event. It is the only religious procession that lasts for four days: 5000 people take part in the procession, led by 30 wooden wheeled, ox-drawn tracca, beautifully decorated with produce from the land, utensils and typical Sardinian foods. A cadre of horsemen, the most spectacular part of the festival, follow in their traditional costumes.
At midday on May 1, the Saint leaves the church in a 17th-century gold plated coach drawn by a pair of huge oxen. He is escorted by two mace-bearers in formal dress and by two lines of brothers and sisters in penitential dress. The music of the launeddas, traditional Sardinian pipes, precedes the statue of the saint as it passes among the crowd, who are overcome with emotion and throng to touch the coach in this centuries old ceremony. The saint then ventures out to visit all the local villages for three days. On the 4th of May the saint begins its return journey to Cagliari.
A carnival atmosphere fills the city as people from more than 100 local cultural groups parade during the day, and at night the streets and squares fill up with songs, shows and performances. Not surprisingly, the boisterous parade ends with a gigantic banquet, where a highlight is Cagliari's renowned seafood. |
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