To experience Carnival in Sardinia is a unique and emotion-filled experience. Beginning with the merry parades of the allegorical floats that with an infinity of confetti and streamers warm the cold winter days, and continuing with the goliardic folk theatre where transgression becomes the rule, we pass to the ever more authentic and traditional ancient Carnival which still survives inland.
Here we find an age-old ritual relating to the idea of death and rebirth, propitiatory dances and the Dionysus cult. What lives on today is the gestural expressiveness, the rhythm and the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic representations disguised as goats, bulls, stags and wild boars. The traditional carnivals follow this cult which differs from village to village, because each one has preserved a different moment of the representation.

There is another exciting Carnival in Sardinia; a vibrant, adrenaline-charged one where horses and horsemen show off their bravery and valour by challenging each other in reckless and spectacular races through the town or village streets. Spectators will be amazed and astounded when they see these acrobatic performances of three or even more horsemen on pairs of horses galloping at breakneck speed through the narrow roads. Being a spectator at one of these equestrian carnivals means taking part in an enthralling performance, which fascinates and thrills you to the core.
THE TRADITIONAL CARNIVAL
The word “Carrasecare” (literally meat to cut) is used to indicate the Sardinian Carnival which is well represented in the Barbagia area. Right in the heart of Sardinia, the Carnival gives you a taste of an ancient past . The “Mamuthones” and the “Issohadores” in Mamoiada, the “Thurpos” in Orotelli, the “Boes” and the “Merdules” in Ottana and the “ Mamutzones e Urtzu” in Samugheo are just a few examples of the most representative masks. To observe their gestural expressiveness, their dances and animal skin costumes is like being encircled by the historical memory of these lands which each village preserves in a unique way.

THE HORSERIDING TRADITION
Jousting and races with teams of horses are another way to experience “Su Carrasecare”: horsemen with masks on their faces and traditional costumes showing off their horse riding skills and bravery. Oristano's “Sartiglia” seems to originate from propitiatory rites, while other horse races, such as Santu Lussurgiu’s spectacular "sa Carrela 'e nanti" (literally "the main road") or the "sa corsa a sa pudda" (where riders have to catch a chicken made of rags) in Ghilarza, Borore or Sindìa, have uncertain origins which are gradually coming to light.

THE ALLEGORICAL AND GOLIARDIC CARNIVAL
In all the villages on the Island, the carnival tradition ranges from the performances coming from the agropastoral world to the merry celebrations and goliardic parades with their allegorical floats and folk performances.
Worth a mention are Bosa’s "Karrasegare Osinku" and Tempio’s "Carrasciali Timpiesu", both of which are extremely popular and attract thousands of visitors every year. The cheerfulness and fun which characterize these Carnivals are contagious, together with Giolzi or King George, the symbol-mask, who is usually doomed to be burned on a big bonfire on the very last day of Carnival.