Sarule Carnival

The main mask of Sarule's carnival is called Sa Maschera a Gattu. She wears the two skirts of the traditional costume inside out, to hide the embroideries and guarantee anonymity, a white cover on the head as a symbol of birth, a black veil in front of the face as an emblem of death, and a red band around the head to symbolize marriage. Sometimes a single skirt is worn (always inside out) tied around the neck, over sos pants a s'isporta with sos cambales and sos cosinzos.
The puppet destined to die at the end of the carnival is called Maimone and is a symbol of good omen: in ancient times the puppet was displayed in the fields to wish the farmers and shepherds a good year or pulled by an oxcart through the streets of the town accompanied by a nursery rhyme.

The masks
Maschera a Gattu: wear the two skirts (duo oddes) of the traditional costume, worn inside out to hide the embroideries and guarantee anonymity, a white cover on the head as a symbol of birth, a black veil in front of the face as an emblem of death and a red band around the head to symbolize marriage.
About Maimone: a puppet that wears on gappottinu, sos pants a s' isporta, sos cosinzos and sos cambales. The face is covered by a very special mask made with dried prickly pear leaf (pane de morisca).

History
With the choice of the clothes used, Sa Maschera a Gattu symbolically perpetuates agrarian rites of death and rebirth of nature widespread in the ancient Mediterranean world, including Dionysian rituals.

Update

8/2/2024 - 14:27