Turn your trip into an extraordinary cultural experience
The traditional festivals run through the history of the town since ancient times. Pagan and Christian rites are the basis of the local culture and, together with the more recent celebrations, they enrich every corner of the area of Dorgali with color and mystery. Let's find them out together.
Fire of Sant'Antonio and San Sebastiano
On 16 and 19 January, Saints Antonio Abate and Sebastiano are celebrated with traditional fires in the square. The “fire” of this centuries-old ritual consists in burning a mountain up to 6 meters high of cistus and rosemary branches. At the top is placed a cross made of oranges is placed, and the younger boys of the community can climb to grasp the oranges as soon as the flames have started to burn the base. Meanwhile, “su priore”, the organizer of the party chosen for that year, serves the villagers a glass of red wine and the “pistiddu”, a traditional dessert with vincotto.
Carnival
Carnival is a mixture of tradition and modernity. The parade of allegorical floats made by of the youngest is anticipated by the typical masks called “mascaras de Baunei”. Masks of Baunei only in name because the tradition is from Dorgali. They invade the streets of the town with the “tittiedau” face, blackened by a greasepaint based on ash, oil and soot, dressed in women’s clothes and armed with brooms and tools of all kinds. Another typical mask is that of “su lardajolu”, which takes place on the Thursday before carnival. Su lardajolu is a figure born to instill fear or to exorcise it: he goes around the houses saying the phrase “o fa ‘o’ asolu o pizzinnu o lettolu” (or broad beans or beans or a child or a bed to sleep in) dressed in a white cloth and a huge red bow above the head.
La Madonna del Mare
The first weekend of July, the feast of the Madonna del Mare is celebrated in Cala Gonone. A religious tradition celebrated in various sea hamlets of the island. After the mass, a procession of boats leaves the port to reach the point where the statue of the “Madonna degli Abissi” is submerged. After a blessing, the priest throws a crown of flowers into the water, placed on the head of the Madonna underwater statue by the local divers. The celebration continues during the night with fireworks, music, and traditional dances.
Ferragosto
From 14 to 17 August, in honor of the Madonna dell’Assunta, the streets of the town of Dorgali are filled with festivities. Traditional dances and songs, religious procession in costume and horse racing represent the folkloristic side of the event, enriched by evenings of fun and live music of a more contemporary style. Another detail of this festival is given by the fact that the young people in their thirties on that year (in dialect called “fedales”) are those who have the honor and the burden of organizing the whole celebration for that year.
Cortes Apertas
Autumn in Barbagia is an event of late origin, which aims to show the most authentic aspects of one of the inland areas of Sardinia, Barbagia. Each town preserves knowledge and flavors of value which, from September to December, are shown and revealed in ancient courts and gardens. A sensorial experience in which you can learn about the roots of the traditions that have always accompanied these areas of the island.
Su pedi coccone
Our Island, since a very long time, has always been linked to the cult and memory of the dead. The name given to this festival, which always takes place on November 2nd, varies from town to town and, in Dorgali, has the name of “su pedi coccone”. The children, since the early morning, wander around the streets with a wicker basket or a sack in their hands, ready to knock on the houses and recite the traditional nursery rhyme “Tzi, a mi lu daisi su pedi coccone?” (Sir, will you give me the “pedi coccone”). Candies, chocolates, typical sweets, or dried fruit is what is donated by the villagers, ready from the night before with a large basket at the entrance of the house.
Saint Catherine
Santa Caterina d’Alessandria is the patron Saint of the town of Dorgali. On November 25, mass, procession, and sacred songs are performed in the streets of the town in honor of the saint, a tradition that has been going on for over two hundred and fifty years. After the religious celebration, “sos priores” (the organizers of the festival) set up a banquet in the church square to thank the inhabitants who took part in it.
Agriturismo Canales is a place of value
Book your holidays at Agriturismo Canales and take a look at the events and celebrations that are part of our culture. Turn your trip into an extraordinary cultural experience.