The Ardia is Ardia, a world unto itself. Then there's everything else, from the Sartiglia to Sa Carrela, including Sa cursa a su puddu and the various other piñatas. Controversy is raging over the Abodi decree, which regulates equestrian events held outside of sports facilities. It mandates the use of helmets and protective vests for riders. This decree came into force 11 months ago and has recently been sparking considerable controversy, especially in Oristano over the Sartiglia itself.

The mayor of Sedilo, Salvatore Pes, intervened with a statement clarifying that: "The decree of January 8, 2025 (the so-called Abodi Decree), in this period leading up to Carnival, has become a kind of blender, coagulating the most disparate interpretations and involving, in the dialectical arena, a multitude of actors with legal, organizational, identity-related, and—why not?—archaeological expertise. This immense competition, which, at least from what we see in the press and social media, sees municipal administrations and the organizations/associations organizing Carnival events at the forefront, has subjected the decree in question to the most disparate 'tortures', fragmented, disjointed, and disjointed, particularly regarding the exact interpretation of Article 3, paragraph 1, to be given to the 'local traditions, customs, and habits' that influence the modus operandi of these events."

Having made this premise, Pes criticizes everyone a bit: "It's like watching a comic opera where the actors involved, with great confusion, try to avoid or divert the poisoned apple. The municipalities involved in these events bring out the most varied concepts about tradition, dusting off "su connotu," facts and antecedents about what was and was unthinkable to change, uncritically mixing and flattening all traditions, both sacred and profane, into a sort of Fat Thursday and Good Friday."

The mayor then clarified: "As the municipal administration of Sedilo, we were particularly and negatively shocked by the disrespectful pairing of the Ardia of San Costantino with various carnival events, especially the Sartiglia or "Sa carrela 'e nanti"; an unnatural pairing that denies the historical evidence and the obvious difference between our Ardia and other events involving horses and riders. The Ardia (but more generally all Ardia), and we're not the only ones saying so, is unique in the Sardinian landscape. The Ardia isn't just for the people of Sedilo, but belongs to the intangible cultural heritage of all of Sardinia."

Hence the request: " For a proper comparison or contrast between traditional Sardinian identity manifestations, Sedilo can be considered for "Sa cursa 'e su puddu" (an ancient carnival rite with a strong propitiatory-exorcistic and simultaneously penitential and expiatory character in which masked knights on horseback gallop and try to catch chickens hanging from a rope stretched between two poles). This year, in 2026, it will take place on Sunday, February 15th, as per tradition and, above all, without any elements characterized by novelties imposed from above, but in full compliance with the rules."

Michael Masala

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