A door to knock on, a gift to share, a light in the darkness. A tradition that is being renewed. In Sardinia, the memory of the deceased also comes through ancient customs in which children are the protagonists.
Between late October and early November, communities renew a relationship with those who have passed away, combining prayer, food, and remembrance. The children's collection of alms recalls the souls in Purgatory and the duty of the living to remember them through an offering.
From Campidano to Barbagia, the names, the formulas, and the foods offered change: the gesture that transcends the present remains. Before a door opens, there's the voice of a child. Then comes bread, sweets, coins: an offering that renews the bond between a family and the village, between those who live in the homes and the loved ones remembered with nostalgia and affection. Su mortu mortu, sas animas, sa candelaria: in Sardinia, the cult of the dead has many names and linguistic and gestural codes that are more powerful than Halloween.
The full article is available in L'Unione Sarda on newsstands and on the L'Unione Digital app.
abbonati.unionesarda.it/Edicola
