Carnival in Barbagia | the masks | the scene | origins and meanings | points of interest
ORIGINS AND MEANINGS
The costumes from Gavoi, Ovodda and Fonni differ from other costumes from Barbagia except for s’urthu, because they do not have any special connotations or hidden meanings. They are what you see.
Any reference to rites, symbols or mysterious images can be ruled out.
S’urthu (a costume of an animal from Samugheo, Sarule and Ulatirso) is thought to be the animal which, descending from snow covered peaks to the valley, heralds the imminent Spring.
Don Conte from Ovodda as well as Narcisu from Fonni (already described in some writings from the end of the nineteenth century), is the tragicomic object of the last carnival rite. He will be in fact be burnt because he is responsible for the problems and troubles which the judge who condemns him reads out.