Why is it called “quartesu (or cuartesu) papa cani”? We have two theories but it's not the only nickname or saying related to food.
In fact, in Sardinia we find different idioms that change on the basis of the town or city and refer to something to eat:
- "Seddoresu papa fa", which means: Sanlurese eat broad beans.
- Gavoese “patateris”: a clear reference to the famous Gavoi potatoes.
- "Tateresu magna caula", which from Sardinian into Italian means "Sassarese eats cabbage". It is a way of saying that derives from the fact that in the past the Sassari area was rich in vegetable gardens that passed from Rosello to Predda Niedda and even to Porto Torres. Sassari cabbage was known throughout the island.
- “Quartucesu papa pisitu”, which from Sardinian into Italian means: Quartuccese eats cats.
- “Quartesu papa cani”, which from Sardinian into Italian means: quartese eat dogs
What are the roots of the nickname "quartesu papa cani"? (remember that "quartesu pappa cani" is not written as the verb "papai/ to eat" in Sardinian has only one p).
Let's come to the two theories:
- The first, and the best known, concerns the period after the Second World War: in Quartu, as well as in other towns and cities of Sardinia, a terrible famine was going through and it seems that the inhabitants ate whatever they found at gunpoint, even dogs and cats.
- However, according to some, the nickname "quartesu papa cani" derives from the way of saying "quartesu papa petza che cani" which means "the Quartese eat meat like dogs".
This is Gianni Zanata's column in Sardinian in which he talks about the origins of our Sardinian idioms, traditions and curiosities.
(Unioneonline)