I CANDELIERI – SASSARI – TUESDAY AUGUST 14

It is primarily a large party of people, a ritual that is the heart of the identity of Sassari. The Feast of the Assumption combines the history and the deepest traditions city and shows off all the religious spirit and collegiate soul of Sassari.

The preparation of the festival begins on the morning of August 14, when the Candlestick of each of the Guilds is taken from the chapel and led Gremio in front of the house dell’Obriere Candlestick for the traditional dressing.

From here, around 16.00, the stanchions are conducted in the rally point, located in Piazza Castello, where once stood the castle aragonese.

The Faradda kicks off at around 18.30 in the Piazza Castello and his natural theater in the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Here Candlesticks parade following a precise order.

First move the Blacksmith, so Piccapietre, followed by the Wayfarers, Farmers, Carpenters, Ortolani, shoemakers, masons, tailors and finally the Massai. The order of the procession reflects, in reverse, the social prestige of the Guilds.

Last, in fact, a procession of Guilds who have the most prestige. The succession, however, has undergone several changes over the centuries. The Candlestick was the Blacksmith in the procession entered only in 2007, bringing to ten the candles of the event. The Descent

Persons who have run down the course making their evolutions to the pressing rhythm of the drums and fife.

Each candlestick is followed by Gremio, arranged in a hierarchical manner, which are at the top of the Obriere Maggiore, which carries the banner of the corporation, and the Candlestick Obriere; bearing the “little flag”.

At Town Hall, where stood the old Town Hall, the Guilds hold out their greetings to the Mayor by dancing candlestick. During this stop the encounter between the Guilds and the municipality and is also carried out the investiture of the new Obriere of the Massai, who received the banner from the Mayor of the city, while the outgoing Obriere take the banner of Gremio.

The investiture of time is called the Massai intregu.
In the rooms of Town Hall is accomplished by tradition a toast, and raising the cup to the representative of the Mayor Gremi expresses the wish “to zent’anni.” So the mayor and city administrators out of the city palace and join the procession of the stanchions.

It is at this particular moment that takes place on the popular judgment on the work of the mayor, which is expressed by the surrounding crowd with cheers or boos.

The procession of the Candle arrives late in the evening at the church of St. Mary of Bethlehem, in the churchyard where candlesticks others dancing to their arrival in reverence and salute.

At this time and Candlesticks Gremi come to church to break the vow.

Their entrance is strictly in the reverse order of the parade. To welcome is the guardian of the convent, which delivers all’Obriere Major of the Massai a candle to donate to the Assumption. Here, inside the church, the carriers do turn around three times each candlestick in honor of Our Lady and then three more times before the Mayor.

Finally, each candlestick is willing to make the halo around the bier of the Virgin dormant. The ceremony ends with prayer and blessing of the guardian.

At the end of the religious, the Gremio of Massai solemnly accompanied the mayor at the Ducal Palace, now the Town Hall, where he performs the last stage of the investiture of the new Obriere.

Here the representative of Gremio return the Banner municipal authorities, while the Mayor entrusted the banner of the Massai all’Obriere which will play the position in the new year.

On August 15, feast of the Assumption, the vote is completed with a solemn procession that leaves at 19:00 from the Cathedral of St. Nicholas with all Gremi citizens and the image of the Madonna at the Cathedral kept dormant.