Internationally known, the Corsa all’Anello in italian (from the spanish Sortija which in its turn comes from the latin Sorticula, which in its turn comes from sors or chance), better known with the name of Sartiglia, but properly Sa Sartilla is a celebretaion which finds its remote roots in the Middle Age. A proper equestrian joust, quoted from several Europeans chronicles, and of which one has the very first testimony in Oristano (Aristanis) in the XVI century, in the middle Renaissance, precisely in 1543 for a feast to pay homage to King Charles V of Aragon. In Sardinia, even then, lived the Aragonese and the island wasn’t divided in the famous Giudicati of Callaris, Arborea, Torres e Gallura, because lapsed during the invasions. The most long-lived among all was the Giudicato d’Arborea, which lapsed only in 1410.
Sa Sartiglia is a heathen rite, with time mixed up with the Christianity, then still really present and stern. Thus, an intermixed of heathen and Christian culture, which finds its point of contact among these exactly on the 2nd of February of every year: the day of Sa Candelora. The handover day of a consecrated candle which is entrusted to the chosen Componidori (the very first competitor), once called el Mantenidor, whom will have to lead the joust.
Sa Sartiglia is celebrated the last Sunday and the last Tuesday of Carnival: the first day is organized from the Gremio dei Contadini; the second one is organized by the Gremio dei Falegnami. At early morning, around 10 o’clock hangs about the city’s squares an herald on horseback,, called su bandidori de sa Sartiglia (the town crier of sa Sartiglia), dressed with traditional clothes and with a hat particularly showy because of its very long feather. He is escorted by the standard bearers whom hold firmly tight the vexillum of the city of Oristano followed from the Gruppo Storico dei Tamburini e Trombettieri (Historical Group of Drummers and Trumpeters).. He opens the Quinquagesima Sunday and the Shrove Tuesday announcing in 6 squares (starting from Piazza Eleonora d’Arborea, Piazza Roma, Piazza Mariano IV, Piazza Sant’Efisio and Piazza Mannu, and then come back to Piazza Eleonora) the opening of the equestrian joust, for which all the people is required to participate going to sa seu de Santa Maria (the little square in front of the Archibishop’s Palace) to take a seat. In the meanwhile, has already been placed the star, emblematic protagonist of this centuries-old tradition.
The path has never been changed in the centuries, it starts with the Investiture which occurs in one of the Gremi’s seats, then follows a long cavalcade of about 15-20 minutes until arrive to Piazza Mannu, where once reigned the Palazzo dei Giudici (Palace of Judges), and dominated the South entrance of the city of Aristanis the imposing medieval walls of the town with its Porta a Mari, destroyed on the April 1907. Once arrived in the Square, the people go behind the protective crush barriers put for all the path’s perimeter bounded also from sheaves of hay, or upon the tribunes which are expressly mounted only on those days of the year to enjoy the view from the top. Afterwards, starts the real equestrian joust with the blessing of Su Componidori whom passes under the green band which bears the star, with Sa Pippia de Majuthe sacred-profan scepter which will bless knights, drummers, trumpeters and all the people there present, to celebrate the season to come (the Spring), to wish prosperity, love and fertility. Such blessing is the moment apex which indicate the opening of the joust.
Once su Componidori’s blessing has occurred, He comes back towards Piazza Mannu, from which He will starts at a gallop of his steed straight towards the star. Only the act to take the star by su Componidori is for the people an enormous mark of gratitude and an excellent outset of prosperity for their own Gremio. Follow exultations by the people whom admire the mastery of the God on horseback trying to take that star at all costs, and also in the case of non-taking, a tribute of honor is worth of a knight.
At the descent of su Componidori follow su Secundu and su Terzu (the second and the third knight) whom try to grasp the star with the sword at the opening of the joust and at the end of it with a short white wood lance bigger than the sword and called su stoccu. At these three figures whom open the joust follow several descents of knights chosen by the same Componidori, whom will give a one-off show which is passed on from centuries. At the end of the descents, su Componidori shows his boldness in the last deed of blessing: sa Remada.A spectacular descent where su Componidori is supine on horseback holding the reins with his left hand and with the right one He agitates sa Pippia de Majuexactly in the way in which one does the Christian cross.
Through the centuries, as well as all the things which are on this earth, the medieval equestrian joust has undergone different alterations. For example, it’s no longer a race to the ring, as in medieval time, but a race to the star; the trumpet blasts and the continuous drumbeat, in the past weren’t part of the soul and of the rhythm which sa Sartiglia follows from beginning to end, but they were warning sounds of the arrival of another knight. If today, for those whom know what I’m talking about, one tries to imagine this joust centuries-old without trumpeters nor drummers, sa Sartiglia wouldn’t be Sartiglia. Fortunately, in spite of many others things which are corrupted through the time, the meaning of this internationally renowed celebration, even if more popularized has remained the same: between sacred and profane. Particular mention is to do for the part which follow the race to the star, once end of the joust. I’m talking about de las Parejas or le Pariglie, a second joust, a feast on the feast which probably was add in the XVIII century for the celebration of the royal wedding of Carlo Emanuele di Savoia with the Princess Anna Cristina Luisa Palatina of Sultzbach and which still today is one of the moments more expected of the event. After the race to the ring the sartiglianti (typical name given at those knights whom race sa Sartiglia) lead their steeds to Vico Tirso (anciently Vico Mannu and then Vico Su Pontixeddu), that is the little arcade which from memorable times overlooks on Piazza Roma (once Piazza Mercato), exactly in front of the Church of San Sebastiano. From this right point, the knights put themselves three abreast on the back of the arcade, from here go out majestic and dauntless 120 knights, which do 40 acrobatic descents through the today’s Via Mazzini (once Via San Sebastiano and anciently Ruga del Castellano). It’s the very moment whom themselves awaited to give the best of themselves, and it’s one of the more exciting and dangerous moments of all event, anyway one knows: the danger attracts everybody. That’s an example of knights’ courage and prowness a mortal acrobatic as the pyramid: two kinghts standing on the horseback at a gallop and the central knight whom go up the shoulders of the side ones and hold himself to their hands. Events to see at least once in the life!
Oristano lives 3 days per year: from the last Sunday till the last Tuesday of Carnival. Drawing some words from the preface of a book upon the Sartiglia published from L’Unione Sarda:
«[…] This city pretends to be drowsy, immobile, always identical to itself. But it’s not true. Oristano is the symbol of the tradition which is repeated renowing itself day after day, slowly but constantly. Oristano is the land, it’s the game of the things which don’t change, it’s the symbol of every custom. […] Oristano turns. It becomes sound, music, cheerfulness. It becomes all that it’s not for the rest of the year. For 362 days per year it’s modest, industrious, silent, peaceful. Then everything changes. […]»
For these days, it’s prepared the path which the knights will do: from Piazza Mannu to Piazza Mariano IV, passing to Via Duomo and carrying on until Vico Tirso and then through Via Mazzini. The asphalt is covered with tons of ochre sand and levelled as much it’s sufficient to bear a possible falling of some knight so as not to hurt themselves. The hay sheaves are put on the sides of the streets as delimitation of the path and also as gaps for the only pedestrian crossing. The ancient city, that one of medieval walls, it’s a total prohibition for the cars for 3 whole days, a magnificent throwback to passed times. There’s only to have fun in these days, and for any age, and believe me… it’s always a real fun!
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