Magic: fatigue becomes relief. The aching feet that run tirelessly along the dirt roads of the Sinis are instead pushed and encouraged by faith. The big day has arrived in Cabras. Today will be the longest night of the year. But also the most awaited one.
Tomorrow morning, the saint of the people of Cabras will once again be rushed by 900 barefoot curridoris from the church of Santa Maria, in Cabras, to the country village that has been celebrating for days. Tomorrow, at dawn, the ancient rite of the Corsa degli Scalzi is renewed, among the dirt roads that divide the Sinis fields.
The day of faith begins at 6.30 with mass in the church of Santa Maria. The parish priest Monsignor Giuseppe Sanna will bless the barefooted ones who invade the aisles in white with their sais: a not indifferent glance. Then the procession towards via Tharros where there is the last act before the race: the sedan chair with the Saint inside is covered, then the word passes to an elderly runner of the town who shouts: "Currei in nomin'e Deus". Only at that point did the Scalzi leave the lagoon village behind them. Their arrival at the village is expected at 8.30. A large crowd of faithful awaited them. Then the wives, daughters, girlfriends, mothers. It will be a great joy, after making it once again.
"Every runner experiences this moment intimately and with great enthusiasm," said the president of the Is Curridoris association, Alessio Camedda. Mayor Andrea Abis: «A moment with a strong identity for our community». The Saint will remain in the small sanctuary of San Salvatore until Sunday evening. At 18 the barefoot will again travel the dusty roads of the Sinis to bring the simulacrum back to Cabras. And at that point the vote was dissolved. On the occasion of the festival, a large, illuminated and guarded parking area was set up near the village. The access point is on Provincial Road 7. For safety reasons, it is forbidden to leave cars on the roadway.