The Procession
On the 1st of May, the procession is opened by the Tracas which are carts towed by decorated oxen. To the feast, thirty or forty carts usually participate coming from different towns of the province of Cagliari. Then, there are folkloric groups wearing typical Sardinian clothes who sing or say some prayers of Sardinian tradition called “gocius”. Behind these groups, there are the horses. The Cavalieri del Campidano (Campidano's Horsemen) start the parade with horses decorated with cockades and rosettes. After them, it is the turn of the Miliziani (Militiamen) with arquebus and sabres. The procession with the horses continues with the Guardianìa, wearing a tailcoat, a top hat and a blue strip in the hips. In the front row, the Third Guardian keeps the standard of the Archconfraternity.
With a tailcoat, a top hat and a strip representing the Italian flag the Alter Nos, representing the mayor of Cagliari, continues the procession along with the members of the Archconfraternity of the Gonfalone. The first of them keeps a crucifix of the XVIII century. Two of them called "the Collaterals" stay on the sides of the cart to open its doors to allow people to put flowers, offerings, ex-votos and supplications in, when the procession stops. The arrival of the cart with the simulacrum is announced by the sound of launeddas, a typical Sardinian wind instrument. A big yoke of oxen decorated with flowers and driven by Su Carradori tows the cart. In Via Roma, in front of the dignitaries' stand the cart continues its procession on a carpet of flowers (sa ramadura), welcomed by the sirens of the boats docked in the port. This is a touching moment, also because the crowd goes towards the Saint to beg for a grace. Then the cart continues its road to Nora with the believers who made the vow to walk.
Programme:
1st of May
10:00 a.m. - The traditional Campidano carts, called Tracas, open the procession.
There will be about 3500 people in traditional costumes from all over Sardinia following them; 200 people will be riding horses, divided into 3 main groups: Campidanesi, Miliziani and the Guardiania.
12:00 a.m. - The departure point is from the Church of St Efisio, then the procession continues as follows:
Via Azuni, Piazza Yenne, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Sassari, Piazza del Carmine, Via Crispi, Via G.M. Anjoy, Via Mameli, Largo Carlo Felice, Via Roma (City Hall side), Via Sassari, Viale La Playa, Villaggio Pescatori in Giorgino at the Church of St. Efisio (arrival around 3 p.m);
In the afternoon of 1st May, the Procession stops in Giorgino in a small private Church.
All the jewels are removed and the clothes are replaced by simpler ones. The statue is put in a travelling coach. Then the procession continues to Maddalena Spiaggia, where many devotees come from the near town Capoterra (called before the city of Saint Efisio).
The third stop is done at "Su Loi", where a Mass is celebrated. At sunset, the procession arrives at the chapel of the beautiful Villa d'Orri of the marquis of Villa Hermosa where Eucharistic blessing is given. At the end, the procession starts again and arrives at Sarroch. The cart is led to the church of Santa Vittoria where a solemn Mass is celebrated and here people will stay to sleep.
On the 2nd of May, the procession arrives at Villa San Pietro, town introduced in the feast in 1943, and then at Pula. At about midday, the coach arrives at Pula and the town and religious authorities welcome it. On the bridge called "Su Rondò", the Alter Nos entrusts to the mayor of Pula the task to go on with the celebrations.
Then, in the church of San Giovanni Battista, a solemn Mass is celebrated. After a stop in front of the cemetery and in front of the little church of San Raimondo, the Saint is given to the Archconfratenity and escorted to Nora where it arrives at around 9 p.m.
The simulacrum is then put in a niche. During the whole day, on the 3rd of May the Saint is commemorated with masses and celebrations. At 6 p.m., there is the procession along the coast and the Saint is taken out of the coach and carried on shoulders to visit again the place of his martyrdom. The 4th of May is the day of the return and the same itinerary is done to go back to Cagliari.
Timetable:
May, 2
8.00 a.m. - Holy Mass.
Departure towards Villa San Pietro.
Procession, Mass and departure to Pula: the local authorities, and the Confraternity of the faithful await the saint's arrival to join the procession through the streets of the village.
Mass and lunch
6.00 p.m. - Celebration of High Mass before the statue’s departure to Nora.
Feast in front of the simulacrum to commemorate the deceased.
A little stop in front of the cemetery to commemorate the deceased.
Blessing in the church of San Raimondo.
Departure to Nora: the procession stops near the Navy Marina for the flag-lowering ceremony and then departs to Nora where Mass will be held.
May, 3
7.30 a.m. - Mass until 11:00, celebrated outdoors by the Ordinary Diocesan.
6.30 p.m. - Procession with the statue from the excavations in Nora up to the beach.
Mass and departure to Pula.
May, 4
8.00 a.m. - Departure from Pula after the Mass: arrival in Cagliari around 10.30 p.m.
May, 5
Holy Mass.
Afternoon: from the 5th until the 25th of May a “Novena” is read in honour of the Saint.
Starting from May 22nd , forty hours of veneration for the saint begin: in this occasion the Rosary of Efisio's entire life is recited.
On the 25th of May, the celebrations in honour of St Efisio officially end.
