Feast of Saint Sebastian

The feast of Saint Anthony is one of the most famous and widespread in central Sardinia: on the night of January 16th and 17th, about sixty villages light ritual fires to pay tribute and celebrate “Sant’Antoni ‘e su fogu”. But bonfires in honour of Sant’Antonio are not the only ones in the month of January. In fact, in many villages the feast of “Su fogadoni o su fogaroni de Santu Srebestianu” is still alive: the bonfire of San Sebastian, celebrated between January 19th and 24th. These celebrations are widespread in southern Sardinia, but also in numerous places of central and northern Sardinia. Even here the fire is the centre point of the ritual. The “is carradoris” are responsible for the collection and transportation of wood, the residents of different villages who have accumulated different stacks in the previous weeks. The lighting of the fire is accompanied by the traditional blessing of the priest, followed by songs, dances and toasts, in which both sacred and profane elements are combined.