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ORISTANO
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Sa Sartiglia
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Ultima Domenica e Martedì di carnevale
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Sartiglia is an
equestrian game of ancient origins: apparently, the Crusaders
introduced it in the Western world between 1118 and 1200. As a
result, the tournament might have Saracen origins.
It is an equestrian joust
for a ring hung along the track at the height of a man on
horseback. The presence of Sartiglia in Oristano could be traced
back to the middle 13th century, when the relationships between
the Courts of Aragon and Arborea allowed the Giudici and the heirs
to the Crown to be educated in Aragon. Hence the tournament might
have come to Sardinia.
Afterwards, Sartiglia
became the emblem of the Oristanese knightly tradition in the
period of Giudicati. Sartiglia riders have to run a lance or a
sword through a metal star. This kind of challenge knew a
widespread success in Spain, where local youth competed against
moor knights. Indeed, the name of Sartiglia itself derives from
the Catalan Sortilla, coming, in turn, from the Latin sorticula,
meaning 'ring' but it is also the diminutive of sors (luck). The
name of the supreme chief of the tournament recalls the Iberian
tradition, too: su Componidori, from componedor, the field master
of Spanish sortija. |
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The evolution of
Sartiglia follows the historical events entailing the development
of feudal-knightly structures. An expression of noble and ruling
class folklore in its earliest period, Sartiglia became shortly
popular within middle and lower classes. According to the
tradition, a canonical instituted a donation as a prerogative of
Famers' Guild for the maintenance of Sartiglia, in order to
subsidize a rich lunch to be offered to the knights taking part to
the Tournament. Still today, the Guild avails itself of the
bequest (su Cungiau de sa Sartiglia) for the maintenance of the
event. On Sunday, the race is run under the protection of St. John
the Baptist, while on Tuesday the Guild of Carpenters is the
organizer of the event, protected by St. Joseph.
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Sartiglia is a magical
feast: colours, symbols, metaphors, skilfulness and culture
intermingle between the sacred and the profane, in a charming mix
of values, wishing that the imminent spring and harvests may
reveal the prosperity of fields once again.
Every year, on Sunday and
Tuesday of the ending Carnival, Oristano attracts the whole
Sardinia in town. The joust is felt with an extraordinary
enthusiasm, that actually lasts throughout a whole year,
especially in circles working on the backstage: Guilds,
associations, authorities, stables and riders' families.
All these elements can be
strongly perceived and the atmosphere of the feast is enthralling
and charming. Indeed, during the hours before the race, the city
streets echo with blasts and rolls of trumpeters and drummers. The
race must be run, no matter if in the sunshine or in the rain. The
director of Sartiglia is su Componidori. The two Guilds choose and
select, among a number of aspirants, those who are to wear the
garments of head of the tournament, who will finally put on a
fascinating and androgynous mask. The dressing is a mythical rite. |
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He
is the Master of the feast, man and woman at the same time,
neither male nor female. An ancient ritual has to be followed, its
peak being the head of the tournament's dressing, on the challenge
day. It is a rite full of sacredness: the horseman gets dressed
upon a table a real altar adorned with flowers and signs of the
feast, carefully prepared by the Oberaiu Majore and all those who
cooperate with the Guild. There is plenty of wheat and floral
decorations all around. Vernaccia is abundantly poured out.
Traditional sweets are offered, while every step of the ceremony
is emphasized according to a strict ritual. Once dressed, the king
of Sartiglia mounts his horse: he must not to touch the ground
until the end of the day, when undressing will be concluded.
The horseman's dressing is cared for by Massaieddas, young girls
wearing a Sardinian costume, directed by an expert woman called
Massaia manna. The head of the tournament is not even allowed to
touch his clothes. It is a real ceremony, a long rite to be
followed in silence. Once the dressing is completed, su
Componidori crosses the threshold on horseback, wearing a black
top hat, a mantiglia, a rich shirt trimmed with lace, a waistcoat,
a broad leather belt and a mask framed by a silk band. His hands
hold sa pippia de maju, a bunch of periwinkle wrapped in a green
cloth, onto which a double bunch of violets is inserted, as a
symbol of spring fecundity: it will be used to bless the crowd and
the horsemen with the sign of the cross.
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The head of the
tournament is aided by su Segundu and su Terzu Cumpoi, riding by
his sides in the cortege unwinding on the joust route, towards Sa
Sea Manna (Via Duomo), where the star is hung.
The head of the
tournament passes under the star for three times, crossing his
sword with his field assistant's. Su Componidori has the honour of
leading off the race for the star. Then it will be the turn of his
assistants and, finally, the sword will be assigned to the chosen
riders. Traditionally, the number of stars caught has a symbolic
meaning revealing harvest abundance. The last round for the star
is run with su stoccu, a spear made of carved wood. Before the
daring Pariglie (pairs or groups of three horses), running until
sunset along the nearby Via Mazzini, su Componidori is expected to
put himself to the test of sa remada. Lying flat, his back on
horse's back, the king of Sartiglia will ride down the track at a
gallop, blessing the crowd. Only then will Sartiglia be officially
concluded, its rite being definitively assigned to history and to
the memory of the whole city. |
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