Sant'Antonio Abate in Mamoiada in the heart of Sardinia it's a much-anticipated event that basically greets the new year. It represents an ancient rite among the agro-pastoral communities which, for the occasion, invoke the protection of the saint to obtain good and copious harvests from working the land.

Feast of Sant'Antonio Abate in Mamoiada

The day of Sant'Antonio, patron saint of Mamoiada in the province of Nuoro, le Masks they make their first outing of the year, visiting numerous votive fires organized by citizens in every district of the country. The actual festivities begin on the afternoon of January 16 (knows the day of su Pesperu); Vespers is followed by the lighting and blessing of the fire in honor of the saint outside the parish church. The parish priest and the faithful go around the fire three times reciting the "Credo". Tradition has it that each district then lights its own bonfire with a brand taken from the blessed fire. In every district of the town, the population gathers around the large votive fires and it is one of the moments of great social participation which also extends to visitors and tourists, who are offered good wine and typical sweets.

Mamuthones and Issohadores

Precisely on the occasion of the feast of Sant'Antonio "they come out", as they say in the village, for the first time in the year sos Mamuthones and sos Issohadores, archaic masks among the most representative of the ancient local tradition. Even the presence of these masks has a propitiatory function, an auspicious sign for the fecundity of 'mother earth'. The masks parade through the town and dance around the fire; their cadenced march ideally marks the passing of the seasons. The party of Sant'Antoni de su Ohu, therefore, it is alsosat first they are", The first release of the traditional masks, of Mamuthones and Issohadores which, thus, begin the Sardinian Carnival. The festivities end around the last embers, sipping a good glass of wine and tasting many delicacies. 

(Images Mamuthones and Issohadores Pro Loco Mamoiada since 1953)

For the feast of Sant'Antonio abate in Mamoiada the Mamuthones and the Issohadores come out last edit: 2023-01-17T12:30:00+01:00 da Staff

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