The Cagliari Festival of Saint Efisio, Sardinia

On 1st May, the streets of Cagliari are filled with colours and people as the celebration parade to honour Saint Efisio begins. Led by his chariot, the parade is accompanied by music played on the traditional wind instruments ‘launeddas’ and the singing of traditional hymns.

Whilst primarily this a religious ceremony, it is also a celebration of local folklore and an opportunity to see the traditional costumes of towns from all over Sardinia, decorated with local coral and filigree jewellery. There are also horses and carriages decorated with flowers.

The parade starts from the historic quarter of Stampace, where there is a small church dedicated to the holy warrior and the religious fraternity that organise the festival every year. The Saint’s carriage is pulled by oxen, sticking to a strict route, followed by devotees and the local community who join in with the events. The whole city is decorated for the occasion, brightly coloured tapestries feature strongly, hanging at the windows along the main streets and side streets as well.

As the Saint proceeds through the streets he is preceded by a sea of flower petals, especially as he reaches Via Roma. In Cagliari and throughout Sardinia, Saint Efisio is much loved by the locals. The procession often stops ‘en route’ to allow the followers to pay homage by placing small gifts such as votive candles into the carriage.

According to legend, the Saint was originally a soldier from Asia Minor who came to Sardinia as a servant of Diocletian but during the crossing he was visited by God. As he spread God’s word and beliefs he was arrested, tortured and sentenced to death in 303 AD. Centuries later in 1652, terrible plagues afflicted Cagliari and the local people turned to him for protection.

The parade continues on to Nora, a few kilometres outside the city, with some of the more devoted followers, the place where Saint Efisio was finally beheaded and there stands a small church dedicated to him.