A huge crowd gathered yesterday in Sassari for the 27th annual Discesa dei Piccoli Candelieri (Descent of the Little Candlesticks). 259 baby bearers, both boys and girls, divided into 20 groups, led the procession from Porta Sant'Antonio to Corso Vico and the church of Santa Maria di Betlem.

The youngest, Enea Casu, is just three years old and already enthusiastic about the Candeliere Dance and the Ortolani Guild to which he belongs. "Now all he says is fallu baddà," say his parents Francesco and Lidia. There are 25 young girls present, five of whom are leading the Candeliere, like Alessia Murgia, 12: "If the boys don't do what I say, I yell at them."

There are born candlestick leaders like Gabriele Delogu, also from Ortolani, who is 11 years old and has been doing it for five years, following in his brother's footsteps. There's no shortage of newcomers, who speak volumes about the social changes Sassari has undergone in recent years.

Giorgio, for example, is five years old and was born in the capital city of Sassari but is originally from the Philippines and already wants to become a member of the Piccapietre. Francesco then adds a nod to his island pride to the celebration of Sassari identity by wearing a Sardinian headdress because, he says, "that's what tradition dictates."

In the Church of Santa Maria, during the event, hosted by Annarita Oggiano, Mayor Giuseppe Mascia and Intergremio President Fabio Madau presented the medals to the young participants, flanked by Councilor for Culture Nicoletta Puggioni and Intergremio Director Marge Cannas. The mayor emphasized the enthusiasm seen in the young bearers, which he hopes will be shared by the adults as well. In his closing blessing, Father Guardian Salvatore Sanna remembered the many children suffering around the world at this time. At the end, the children expressed uncontainable joy, despite the exhaustion accumulated from over four hours of performance.

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