In Sardinia there are many opportunities to “get acquainted” with tradition: in the kitchen, baking bread and cakes, at the hundreds of festivals or through religious celebrations in honor of a saint.
In 1656 a terrible plague struck Sardinia and in particular the city of Cagliari, causing the deaths of over ten thousand people.
The Cagliari invoked Sant’Efisio, vowing solemn celebrations if the plague had ceased.
Since then, every year for over three centuries and a half, Efisio officer of the Emperor Diocletian, became a martyr because he converted to Christianity, received the thanks of the island.
At the grand manifestazine participating men and women in traditional costumes from all over the island, “traccas”, bullock carts decorated festively, knights and authority.
After passing through town, the coach with the Saint continued his journey up to Nora, a place of martyrdom, accompanied on foot by the faithful.
S.Efisio
Efisio of Elijah, a city of Asia Minor, has always been the hero of the Christian city of Cagliari. Enlisted in the Roman army under Diocletian, is sent to Sardinia to fight the spread of the Christianity. Conquered by the faith he will be martyred to Nora, where today stands the small church dedicated to him.
His reputation for holiness makes a point of reference for Cagliari, so that in 1652, during one of the most terrible plague that struck Sardinia was invoked to stop the spread of the same, the only city that had claimed over 12,000 victims .. The miracle of Efisio gave rise to the festival held since the dissolution of the vote every 1st day of May.
The party S.Efisio is a unique opportunity for fans of folk: hundreds of men, women and children come from all parts of the island for the procession that takes place in the morning. Open the “traccas”, ox-drawn wagons decorated for the occasion, the procession of devotees continue with the representation of folklore groups in traditional costumes walk sing religious songs. After the passage of the knights, militia on horseback and authorities, concludes the chariot procession of the saint that passes over a carpet of flower petals scattered by the faithful. The innermost part of the celebration continues with the pilgrimage from Cagliari to Nora, a place of martyrdom, where the saint is accompanied on foot by those who vote to dissolve the grace received.
