With the lighting of the fires of Sant'Antonio, on the evening between January 16 and 17, Carnival opens in Sardinia . Legend has it that Sant'Antonio Abate went to hell to steal fire from the devil, with the intention of warming the world.
In many towns in Sardinia in the last few days the wood and branches for the big bonfire have been prepared, with the involvement of all generations. The dance around the fire also represents a propitiatory rite, to wish for a good harvest while waiting for the awakening of nature.
It is one of the most significant moments in the popular traditions of Sardinia, with the first appearance of the traditional masks. A moment in which the entire community comes together and which, in recent years, has become an important vehicle for tourism promotion.
An eight-page insert is dedicated to the fires of Sant'Antonio, available free tomorrow with L'Unione Sarda on newsstands or on the L'Unione Digital App.