Sa Festa De Saint Simplicio 0 Comments

“Sa Festa Manna de Mesu Maju”, the great festival of the month of May is celebrated every year from May 10th to May 15th in Olbia in honour of Saint Simplicio, the Patron Saint. We had written about The romanesque Church of Saint Simplicio in Olbia, but today we want to know a little more about the Saint and the celebration in his honour, which is a very heartfelt anniversary in Olbia.

As remembered in the 17th century in the Roman Martyrology of Baronio: «Fausinae, in Sardinia, sancti Simplici, Episcopi et Martyris; here, Diocletiani tempore, sub Barbaro praeside, perfossus lancea martyrum consummavit. » «In Fausania (Olbia’s early mediaeval name), in Sardinia, Saint Simplicio, bishop and martyr; who at the time of Diocletian, under the governor Barbaro, was pierced by a spear and suffered martyrdom.». 

Saint Simplicius was martyred in the year 304 under the Roman governor of the Province of Sardinia and Corsica, remembered with the name of Barbarian, after Diocletian had ordered the persecution of all Christians in the empire. Simplicio, bishop of Olbia, died after three days of agony. Legend has it that a part of the Saint's body was thrown into the sea near the Tavolara island, to calm the waters which, according to the fishermen, were inexplicably boiling.

The roots of the festival of Saint Simplicio date back to the Middle Ages. Legend has it that the Saint was buried in an area near the city of Olbia, but nobody knew where. In the 9th century a shepherd, appealed by a divine light, found the Saint's tomb. The news spread quickly in the city of Olbia and the discovery was considered a miracle. Since then, San Simplicio became the patron Saint of the city and a festival was dedicated to him ever since to remember him.

On the occasion of the festival, the streets around the Romanesque church are decorated with coloured flags. On the first day the 5 days of celebration are inaugurated with 20 minutes of fireworks over the Gulf Sea.

The stalls prepared for the occasion offer the specialties of the festival: grilled sausage meat sandwiches with onion, or  The Octopus’ Sandwich, but also the roast suckling pig, the horse sandwich, fried foods, as well as nougat and other traditional sweets. The festival of mussels marinara, accompanied by Vermentino from the Monti winery, which is offered by the San Simplicio Committee and usually takes place on May 14th, cannot be missed at the Patron's feast. In the Fausto Noce Park, near the Church of San Simplicio, carousels, flying saucers, roller coasters and a large amusement park are set up.

On the last day of the festival, May 15th, mass is celebrated in the morning in the church square and in the evening, there is a procession through the streets of the centre with the statue of the Saint, accompanied by the bishop and priests from all over Gallura, by the Olbia folk group and other Sardinian folk groups and by the musical band. As the Saint passes by, rose petals are thrown onto the statue from the windows of the houses, decorated with white cloth. The folk groups then perform traditional dances, accompanied by the accordion. The Feast of San Simplicio hosts a horse race, the Palio della Stella, with the participation of twenty-six municipalities in the province.

“And the night shall be filled with music, and the cares, that infest the day, shall fold their tents, and as silently steal away.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

Written by Daniela Toti