Folklore

Folklore in Sardinia

Folklore is one of the great inheritances of Sardinia. The province of Sassari has kept a series of particularly suggestive events, throughout the whole year.

Spring: Sardinia is gorgeous in the Spring! The temperature begins to rise and nature gifts us with its marvellous colours and fragrances. Carnival is celebrated in many centres with traditional costumes and dances.

In Valledoria and in that area very ancient traditions of the Holy Week are still kept alive. The picturesque processions, accompanied by Gregorian choruses and lit by candlelight, which go through the small Medieval streets of Castelsardo, (about 7 km) and begin on Monday "Lunissanti" (Holy Monday) after Palm Sunday. Moreover Alghero attracts its guests with its processions of Catalan origins.

The Sardinian Horse ride is the grand Spring Feast in Sardinia. In the past, to welcome solemnly illustrious guests, processions of men and women on horse, dressed with the most beautiful and colourful costumes, used to be organized. In memory of this tradition, the Sardinian Horse ride reunites every year in Sassari, on the second to the last Sunday of the month of May, over three thousand young people, elderly and children from all over Sardinia: a living museum of island folklore, but also a feast continuously animated by happiness, songs and dances. Besides this, rural feasts in the most typical sanctuaries are organized, during which Sardinian specialties can be tasted.

Summer: Tempio honours its visitors in July with the International Folklore Week while in Pozzomaggiore a reckless race among knigts, called S'Ardia, in honour of St. Constantine, takes place. In August there's an exhibition of minerals and fossils in Valledoria. Moreover, on the 14th of August, in Sassari there is the descending of the candleholders, a procession in honour of the Virgin Assunta.

Autumn/Winter: Sardinia begins to go back to its origins. The beaches are deserted and the weather, still hot, grants sea and relax lovers some more unforgivable moments. Both September and October are months in which nature is very generous. Fruits such as mushrooms, eggs, melons, figs, tomatoes, aubergines and so on influence the cuisine of traditional restaurants from this moment forth. Walks through the nearby mountains give the opportunity to breathe fresh air and enjoy gorgeous sceneries, furthermore, chestnuts and mushrooms offered by our forests can be picked.