Italian Festivals: The Ardia di San Constantino in Sardinia

The Italians love life. They celebrate life and their Roman Catholic faith with festivals. One of these events is the Ardia di San Constantino which is celebrated in the town of Sedilo in Sardinia. This festival and religious feast honors Saint Constantine (the first Christian Roman Emperor). The Ardia is a competition and devotion all wrapped in one. In the Ardia the local horsemen of Sedilo will be the "defenders of Christianity and the guardians of the Sanctuary." Three men will play horsemen and will be escorted by three men who will also be riding horses. Each three horsemen will be given a flag they would carry as they ride their horses. One will receive a white flag, the other one a red flag and the last one a yellow flag. The other three men acting as escorts will be provided with lances and banners to protect the yellow flag bearer from the red and white flag bearers. The escort's job is to prevent the other horsemen from moving beyond the flags.

The three horsemen will then prepare themselves to race once they reach the steep slope in the area of the sanctuary. The horseman carrying the yellow flag will be the one to abruptly decide when the race must start without giving any warning to the other two horsemen. The two horsemen carrying the white and red flag will do their best to win the race and prevent the yellow flag bearer.

The horsemen will race for the Arch and will do the ritual rotations around the church for about three to seven times for which the yellow flag bearer will again abruptly decide without warning the race towards the rotunda with an iron cross. Then again the whole ritual will be repeated from the start. The spectators may simply watch the event and some will do their the ritual turn by foot or on their knees around the Sanctuary showing devotion to St. Constantine.

Photo Credit: Ardia di San Constantino Festival
Photographer: Cristiano Cani
Photo Stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cristianocani/