Sardinia, an island of deep identity and millennial history, jealously guards a heritage of rites and celebrations that transcend mere folkloric tradition to touch the deepest roots of its past.
These events, often perceived as simple spectacular displays, are in fact true bridges to a pre-Christian and magical era, living expressions of an ancient spirituality that still resonates today in the hearts of the Sardinians. Like the “contus” handed down from generation to generation, these celebrations also offer a “vision of an entire universe” that resists oblivion, uniting the community in a collective experience of memory and rebirth.
The Soul of Carnival: Mamuthones, Wooden Masks and the Archaic Rhythm of Rebirth
Among the most evocative and mysterious manifestations of Sardinia stands out the Carnival of Mamoiada, a rite rooted in a past so remote that it is still today the subject of study and interpretation.
This carnival is not a masquerade like any other, but an archaic representation that celebrates the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, a dialogue between man and nature expressed through enigmatic figures and primordial sounds.
Origins and the Contrast of the Figures
The exact origins of the masks of Mamoiada remain uncertain, shrouded in time.
The most accredited theories link them to “Dionysian rites” or “agrarian fertility rites marking the passage of the seasons,” particularly the spring equinox, with the sacrifice of an animal.
Other interpretations suggest a connection with cults related to water, rain, and livestock—vital elements for the survival of pastoral communities.
The performance revolves around two main figures, in a visual and sound contrast that is the heart of the rite: the Mamuthones and the Issohadores.
- The Mamuthones: These enigmatic figures are the core of the procession.
Their face is hidden bysa visera, a black wooden mask with rigid, almost expressionless features, which gives them an aura of detachment and mystery.
They wear a headpiece,su bonette(Sardinian cap), and are wrapped in heavy black sheepskins (sas peddes).
Their most distinctive element issa carriga, a heavy cluster of bronze and iron cowbells weighing up to 25–30 kg, fixed to their back.
Their stride is slow, measured, and the rhythmic shoulder movement produces a deep, deafening sound of the bells.
Ethnologist Raffaello Marchi described this walk as a “danced procession,” a movement evoking ancient beliefs linked to the cycle of life and death, a rite of purification and fertility. - The Issohadores: In sharp contrast to the austere figure of the Mamuthones, the Issohadores move with agility and grace.
Their clothing is more elegant and colorful: a red bodice, white trousers, a dark headpiece, and a floral scarf.
Their role is to symbolically “capture” people from the crowd with a rope,sa soha, a gesture that, according to tradition, brings good luck and fertility.
The Issohadores represent the more “human” and interactive element of the parade, guiding and protecting the Mamuthones.
The Rhythm and the Symbolism
The rhythm of the Mamuthones’ bells is a central element.
It is a hypnotic, deafening sound that seems to awaken the primordial forces of the earth. This sound, accompanied by the slow and almost painful movement of the Mamuthones, symbolizes the struggle against evil forces, the purification of the soil, and the rebirth of nature after winter’s slumber.
It is a ritual that, despite its simplicity, conveys ancestral power—an experience that goes beyond simple observation to touch the deepest soul of Sardinia.
The Veil and the Sword: Sa Sartiglia, a Rite of Transformation between Faith and Skill
In the heart of the city of Oristano, another ancient rite is renewed each year with the same intensity and solemnity: Sa Sartiglia.
This equestrian joust, held on the last Sunday and Tuesday of Carnival, is not just a display of skill, but a rite of transformation and blessing rooted in the Middle Ages, and perhaps even earlier.
Su Componidori: From Man to Demigod
The core of Sa Sartiglia is the figure of Su Componidori, the leader of the race, a true “lord of the joust.”
His “dressing” (Sa Vestizione) is a long and intimate ritual that transforms him from man into a sacred figure, almost a demigod.
This rite takes place in a reserved setting, where only certain women (the “Massaieddas”) may assist him.
A genderless, expressionless mask is sewn to his face, erasing his human identity and elevating him to a higher plane.
He cannot touch the ground until the end of the rite, a symbol of his sacredness. Su Componidori is the mediator between the earthly and the divine, the one who must ensure the prosperity of the community through his performance.
The Race to the Star: An Omen of Prosperity
The climax of Sa Sartiglia is the “Race to the Star,” an ancient test of skill and luck.
The riders, led by Su Componidori, must try to spear a star suspended from a ribbon along the street.
Each star pierced is an omen of prosperity and good fortune for the harvest and for the community of Oristano.
The suspense, the speed of the horses, and the riders’ skill make this moment one of great emotional and symbolic intensity.
Sa Remada: Blessing and Rebirth
The joust concludes with Sa Remada, the final and perhaps most meaningful act of the ritual.
Su Componidori lies flat on the galloping horse, back to the ground, and blesses the crowd with Sa Pippia de Maju, a scepter made of a bouquet of violets and periwinkles.
This gesture is not merely an equestrian acrobatics, but an ancient rite of blessing and good omen, concluding the Carnival cycle and opening the doors to spring, fertility, and rebirth.
Sa Pippia de Maju, with its flowers, symbolizes life reborn after winter, a message of hope for the entire community.
The Bond with the Ancient: Paganism and Christianity
Both the Carnival of Mamoiada and Sa Sartiglia reveal a fascinating syncretism between pagan and Christian elements.
The zoomorphic masks and agrarian fertility rites of the Mamuthones are clearly pre-Christian, rooted in ancient cults of earth and nature.
Similarly, the origins of Sa Sartiglia, while medieval and chivalric in nature, contain elements traceable to much older rituals of fertility and blessing.
These celebrations demonstrate how Sardinia has preserved a profound bond with its origins, integrating new beliefs without ever forgetting the old ones.
They remind us that traditions are not static but dynamic, constantly evolving, yet always faithful to an ancient soul that continues to resonate.
Sardinia Dancing with Time
The celebrations of Mamuthones and Sa Sartiglia are much more than simple folkloric events; they are the beating heart of an identity that regenerates each year, a bridge between past and present.
Through the insistent rhythm of the bells and the grandeur of the equestrian joust, Sardinia invites us to rediscover the profound value of rites, masks, and ancient gestures.
These events are a living “contu,” a tale celebrated and handed down by the community, offering the world a window into an island where the ancient does not disappear but is reborn in every heartbeat, in every step, in every speared star.
In these celebrations, the Sardinian people not only remember but relive their deepest history, keeping alive an “entire universe” of “legends and traditions” that continues to enchant and inspire.
