In Segariu, popular traditions and religious liturgy have coexisted since the dawn of time, giving rise to a strong and beloved tradition linked to the numerous rites of Holy Week . Today, it is essential not only to understand and share these traditions, but also to pass them on to future generations so that they can safeguard them and value them as a true strength of their community. The municipal administration has launched a comprehensive program that will begin Friday, March 27th and conclude April 6th, with the aim of engaging the entire community: children, young people, and the elderly, encouraging them to engage in dialogue.
The event also aims to preserve ancient knowledge, gestures, and rituals, supporting intergenerational transition, and simultaneously enhancing local intangible heritage as a driver of social cohesion, cultural growth, and the region's appeal to the outside world. It welcomes visitors and worshippers and offers them an authentic experience that combines spirituality, tradition, conviviality, and local identity.
Segariu Mayor Andrea Fenu : "Thanks to the municipal administration and the Sardinia Region, along with the entire community, the schools, and the associations that have committed themselves, this year we are presenting a beautiful calendar of Holy Week events that fill me with special emotion. This year, the program is not only a celebration of our faith and our most distinctive traditions, but tangible proof that our community is alive and capable of renewing itself through dialogue with the new generations . Seeing our young people approach the centuries-old Easter rites with respect and passion is a source of great pride. It's often thought that traditions are destined to fade, but Segariu is proving the opposite: our young people are at the center of a collaborative effort that will leave them a great legacy of traditions to carry forward over the years, ensuring they are not lost. We invite everyone to come to Segariu to experience these moments with us, and to see with their own eyes how a small town can preserve a cultural heritage of unparalleled value."
Segariu's Easter celebrations will naturally culminate on Easter Sunday with the evocative ritual of "S'Incontru," the meeting between Mary and the Risen Christ, with the characteristic gunfire along the Pau River, a symbol of devotion and a link between sacred and popular tradition. In the days leading up to Easter, the town will be enlivened by many initiatives that will lead the community toward Easter: from the "Pintadura de ispramas," which prepares woven palms for Palm Sunday, to workshops for children and adults, designed to pass on ancient knowledge such as "su nenniri," "sas matracas," and the preparation of traditional Easter breads and sweets. The celebrations begin on March 27th and 28th, the days preceding Palm Sunday, when the entire town will gather around an ancient gesture: the "Pintadura de ispramas." Here, not only is the raw material of palm leaves woven, but also, and above all, memory, tradition, patience, and devotion. Masters will guide young and old alike in the art of weaving so that everyone can create their own palm, which will then be blessed on Sunday, March 29th.
On Monday, March 30th, in collaboration with the Municipal Library, a workshop will be held dedicated to reading Easter-themed fairy tales and short stories, followed by a traditional explanation and the creation of jars containing "Su Nenniri," a symbol of Christ's resurrection and spring rebirth, life triumphing over darkness. Sprouting wheat, barley, or lentils in the dark, without chlorophyll, symbolizes death and resurrection, the death of the seed and the birth of the plant, a metaphor for the Christian Easter and the pagan spring. This Sardinian ritual, combined with a workshop game, becomes a simple way to pass on tradition to children.
On Tuesday, March 31st, the spiritual journey of the Via Crucis will take place, accompanied by the San Giorgio Martire di Segariu Aps polyphonic choir. On Wednesday, April 1st, the workshop dedicated to "Sas Matracas" will take place. These instruments, with a dry, penetrating sound, replace the bells from Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday as a sign of mourning for the death of Jesus. This day will involve the children of preschool, middle school, and high school in the morning, and the adults in the evening at the Social Aggregation Center. On Thursday, April 2nd, we delve into the heart of gastronomic tradition with the workshop dedicated to "su Coccoi cun s'ou" and "su Coccoi Pintau," Easter bread, and pardula, a typical Easter dessert, organized by the ProLoco.
On Friday, April 3rd, at 5:00 PM, the procession of the Dead Jesus will take place. The night of Holy Saturday, April 4th, is charged with sacredness. The parish will be open all day for adoration. On the afternoon of Easter Eve, one of the most evocative moments takes place: the Rite of Investiture of the riflemen who will participate in the "S'Incontru" shooting.
During this moment, the parish priest blesses and hands out the symbolic pins to the village riflemen, dressed in traditional garb, in the presence of the Mayor and the community. At the end of the event, the pins are handed over to the parish priest, who will safeguard them so that the rite can be repeated the following year. During the Mass, before midnight, the Rites of the Resurrection of Jesus will be celebrated. On Monday, April 6th , in celebration of Easter Monday, tables will be set up at the Tazenda concert site in Sant'Antonio Park: a moment of conviviality and sharing open to the entire community. For seniors who are unable or unavailable to travel to the site, shuttles will be organized by the Segariu Civil Protection Association and the non-profit organization Il Fiume dei Sorrisi.
