Three days of celebration, an entire community gathered around its patron saint, dispenser of graces and protector of the suffering. Dolianova once again paid homage this year to San Biagio, the Armenian martyr to whom religious tradition attributes exceptional powers against seasonal ailments, in particular sore throats.
The celebrations which began last Thursday with the dressing ceremony continued the following day with the lighting of the votive bonfire in the square in front of the small church of Santa Lucia on the outskirts of the town. Yesterday the most significant moment was with the procession through the streets of the town with the simulacrum of the saint accompanied by launeddas players and the songs of the faithful who sang the traditional goccius in the Sardinian language. To transport San Biagio, the new chariot was used for the first time, made on the wooden base of an ancient ox cart from the end of the 19th century purchased last year by the Committee at Domus de Maria and identical to that of Sant'Efisio used for the route towards Nora after the solemn procession on May 1st in Cagliari.
The cart restored by the town's blacksmiths and carpenters now has the same colors (red and green) present inside the church of San Biagio. The upper part, designed by architect Franco Serra and inspired by the church bell tower, will also be completed soon. The fundamental element is the round arch that distinguishes the part of the bell tower and the hemispherical dome with shingles. «This year too we have honored our saint – says Luca Dessì, president of Societas Sicci Sancti Blasi – a celebration marked by tradition and community participation».