Festivals and Country fairs

The Gallura region is scattered with country churches not far from one another. They have been built by shepherds starting at the end of the XVII century. Their architecture matches the identity of the surrounding farms, simple and essential in a monastic way, they invite you to silence and prayer.

Every ‘cussoggja’ (farm community) has a church, always open, and it represents the focal point and the meeting place for all the important events of life from christenings to funerals It is a place for prayer and reconciliation even after committing a crime. Like the monasteries these churches played an important role in the social life of the people and in the transformation of the society. They produced culture, knowledge and therefore progress and peace. A magic moment for the villagers was the festival. In years of despotic rule the organizers of the local festival elected in a democratic way the organizers of the following year. These festivals take place in May and in September, very important months for the country life.

"La Festa Manna" was a propitiatory festivity that took place in May when the farmers prayed God to bless the fields and asked for a prosperous harvest. The September festival instead was a moment of rest after the harvest and the beginning of the new year that, according to the byzantine calendar, started in September. It was the time to thank God and ask for abundant rain in the fall. It was the “festa della cussoggia” when people arrived on foot, horseback or on chariots pulled by oxen. It was a special day that people were waiting for, perhaps to wear a new dress for the first time or to meet friends and family, finally a social moment after the work in the stazzi and also the time to honor the patron saint through the procession and the Mass. The day was inspired by the words of the priest that through the sermon reminded everyone of the simplicity of the Christian way of life. There was also the “capo suprastanti”, the head of the committee, who organized the evening meal and the festival lunch for those present, the “turrunaiu”, who sold nougat and sweets, the accordion player that accompanied dances, poets composing verse and competing in poetry. It was a peaceful day that ended with the knights going in and out of the church three times at the sound of the church bells.

Nowadays these communities of farmers and shepherds living in the countryside have no place in the society but the festivals still exist despite the wave of tourism and the hustle of the modern world. The relatives of those who originally built the churches and started the festival feel that a sacred bond connects them to their ancestors. In their honor they keep up the tradition, participate devotedly to the Mass and take part in the organization of the luncheon and the entertainment. The festivals are still alive, still attended with joy, faith and sense of community.
Francesco Cossu

APRIL
1	SAN LUCA	Loc. Capichera	ARZACHENA
25	SAN MARCO	Strada Tempio Pausania	ARZACHENA
26	MADONNA DEL LAGO	Loc. Saloni	ARZACHENA
MAY
1	SAN SANTINO		S. ANTONIO DI G.
1	SAN GIUSEPPE	Loc. Saltara	S. TERESA GALLURA
1	SAN MICHELE ARCANGELO	Loc. Canali	LUOGOSANTO
2/3	SAN SALVATORE	Loc. Monti Canaglia	ARZACHENA
3	SAN GIORGIO	Loc. San Giorgio	PALAU
3	SAN PAOLO		LUOGOSANTO
3	LA MADONNA DELLA NEVE	Loc. Marinella	GOLFO ARANCI
5	SAN GIACOMO		S. ANTONIO DI G.
6	SAN GIOVANNI	Strada OLbia	ARZACHENA
7/8	SAN MICHELE DI LISCIA		SAN PASQUALE
8	SAN MICHELE		ARZACHENA
8/9	LA CRUCITTA	Strada Priatu	S. ANTONIO DI G.
10	LA MADONNA	Loc. Pulicinu	ARZACHENA
10/11	SAN MICHELE SANNA		ARZACHENA
12	SANTO STEFANO	Loc. Balaiana	LUOGOSANTO
II dom.	SAN SIMPLICIO		OLBIA
16	SAN MICHELE		ARZACHENA
16/17	SAN PASQUALE		SAN PASQUALE
16/17	SACRO CUORE	Loc. Santa Teresina	ARZACHENA
17	S. MARIA DEGLI ANGELI	Loc. Balaiana	LUOGOSANTO
21	SANTA REPARATA		LUOGOSANTO
23/24	LA MADONNA	Loc. Capu Abbas	OLBIA
30	SAN PAOLO CARTA	Strada Luogosanto	ARZACHENA
30/31	SAN MARTINO	Loc. Monti Canaglia	ARZACHENA
31	SANTA ELISABETTA	Loc. Putzolu	OLBIA
31	NS. SIGNORA DI BONARIA	Loc. Liscia di Vacca	ARZACHENA
JUIN
5/6	SAN LEONARDO	Strada Luras	S. ANTONIO DI G.
7	SAN NICOLO'	Strada Luogosanto	LUOGOSANTO
11	S. ANTONIO		OLBIA
12	S. ANTONIO		OLBIA
13	S. ANTONIO		OLBIA
12/13	SANTA CHIARA	Strada S. Pantaleo	OLBIA
12/13	S. GIUSEPPE PALA	Diga Liscia	S. ANTONIO DI G.
13	S. ANTONIO	Loc. Monti Canu	PALAU
20	SANTA RITA	Loc. Santa Teresina	ARZACHENA
20	SAN SILVERIO		GOLFO ARANCI
20	SAN GIOVANNI + MAD. DEL MARE		OLBIA
21	SAN SILVERIO	Strada Portobello	AGLIENTU
23/24	SAN GIOVANNI	Strada Olbia	ARZACHENA
24	SAN GIOVANNI	Loc. Monti Russu	AGLIENTU
JULY
4/5	SAN TOMASO	Loc. Porto Pozzo	S. TERESA GALLURA
5	SAN PIETRO	Loc. Balaiana	LUOGOSANTO
24	SANTA LUCIA	San Pantaleo	OLBIA
25	San Pantaleo	San Pantaleo	OLBIA
26	SANTA LUCIA	San Pantaleo	OLBIA
25	SAN GIACOMO		S. ANTONIO DI G.
26	SANTA MARIA		BASSACUTENA
AUGUST
6/7	SAN QUIRICO		LUOGOSANTO
10/11	SAN LUSSORIO		BASSACUTENA
14/15	FESTA DELL'ASSUNTA		GOLFO ARANCI
20	SAN GIACOMO		BASSACUTENA
21	S. ANTONIO E S. ISIDORO	Loc. Rudalza	OLBIA
22	S. ANTONIO E S. ISIDORO	Loc. Rudalza	OLBIA
23	S. ANTONIO E S. ISIDORO	Loc. Rudalza	OLBIA
SEPTEMBER
4/5	SAN GIACOMO	Loc. Monti Canaglia	ARZACHENA
I Dom.	SAN MICHELE SANNA	Strada Palau	ARZACHENA
12	SANTA REPARATA	Loc. Santa Riparata	ARZACHENA
II Dom.	S. MARIA-S. ISIDORO-S. ANTONIO		ARZACHENA
27	SAN MICHELE		ARZACHENA
OTCTOBER
3/4	SANTA TERESINA	Loc. Santa Teresina	ARZACHENA
10/11	SAN FRANCESCO	Loc. Pulicinu	ARZACHENA
NOVEMBER
30	S. ANDREA	Loc. Vaddidulimu	LUOGOSANTO