Thousands of faithful in Cagliari for the feast of Sant’Efisio

(ANSA) – CAGLIARI, 01 MAY – There weren’t the record crowds of previous editions – also thanks to the work in the city, the absence of stands and the rain at the beginning of the morning – but many didn’t want to miss the 368/ at the Feast of Sant’Efisio in the streets of the center of Cagliari. A festival which every 1st of May attracts thousands of people to the Sardinian capital, including tourists, faithful and people and which, in addition to the religious aspect of the event, highlights the traditional clothes, songs and colors of all of Sardinia in a procession with the Holy martyr between Cagliari and Nora (from where he will return on May 4th) in which knights and traccas also parade, the carts pulled by oxen and decorated with flowers, fruit and other typical products. Among the guests of the festival, also Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy. Also present was the Sardinian governor Alessandra Todde. A day that began with the investiture of the Alter Nos, Giovanni Ena, in the Town Hall. “By popular will, I nominate you, Giovanni Ena, Alter Nos, to represent the Administration in all the events that will be organized in honor of Sant’Efisio Martire”. With the traditional formula, the extraordinary commissioner of the Municipality Luisa Anna Marras awarded the municipal manager the tricolor sash and the prestigious “Golden Fleece”, a symbol of honor dating back to the reign of Charles II of Spain in 1679. Then the parade began with 85 cultural and folk associations involved for a total of 2,500 devotees on foot, dressed in traditional clothing, and 270 horsemen. The soundtrack, together with the launeddas and sulitus, is based on the songs of the rosaries in honor of Sant’Efisio, performed mainly in the Sardinian language. At the end of the morning the statue of Sant’Efisio leaves the church of Stampace, with destination Nora, a localist on the south-western coast about 30 km from Cagliari. Religious fulfillment for the dissolution of the vow for the liberation of the city from the plague. (HANDLE).