MAMOIADA

16/17 January 2013 San’Antoni de su o’u in MAMUJADA – Sa first essida

THE FIRES OF MAMUTHONES and Issohadores

On January 16, a fire is lit blessed outside the church and the faithful will revolve around reciting the Creed 3 times.
According to tradition, each district must light his fire with a coal taken from the main burning in front of the church.
Throughout the night and for the next two days, the country gather around the fires. Cakes and wine are offered.
E ‘on the afternoon of 17 appearing for the first time in the year, the “Mamuthones” and “Issohadores”, the typical masks and archaic mamoiadine: the hollow sound of bells, masks white and black skins of wild sheep, the sacred rope that captures young women, the head issohadore gives the tragic tread. They dance around the fires and surrounds a mysterious Mamoiada.

And Issohadores MAMUTHONES MAMOIADA OF MASKS ARE THE MOST ‘SUGGESTIVE ANCIENT AND SARDINIA (UNIQUE IN THE WORLD) The history of the Pro Loco of Mamoiada.
From the evidence it appears that the first steps in 1953. The counselors were Dr. Piero Careddu, Giannino Massetti and professors Giannetto Meloni, Arturo Lai and many altrii. It was Dr. Careddu had the idea to form a pro loco Mamoiada, at that time was doctor in our country and was engaged
the daughter of the mayor Don Nino Angioi. Seem to have entered into an agreement to use the village hall which is located under the current museum, which still serves as a ballroom, and gave him the name of the Blue Grotto. Across the country gave a hand to fix and adjust the hall to the various tasks recreation and sports. It was definitely a very active group, as well as fast-forward the traditions of mamuthones and Issohadores, group dancing and ‘ussertu, held sports: boxing, cycling, football, also at that time were introduced dances “to know civil” ( ballroom dancing). In 1955 the group of Mamuthones Issohadores and performed for the first time at the Cavalcade, and since then I have never missed appointment. In ’58 they went to Cagliari and Milan. In 1972 the current Pro Loco, with the president and vice Raffaele Moro Constantine Atzeni.
In that year he organized the first major square in favata accompanied by a good wine, offered to all present. The money that was earned in the transfers from the group, were all paid in cash fund of the association, and later between ’75-’76 were bought the first bells, mastrucche or masks. In 1980 was signed the deed and the association legally recognized in all respects. At that time he worked a lot in the socio-cultural organizing and promoting many events: Carnival, S. Antonio, festivals, etc.. In the mid-80s, on the feast of St. Antonio and the carnival, the first museum promotes temporary mask, and proposes to the common endeavor to ask the contributions and pledging it as a permanent, something that will happen in the early 2000 born so the Museum of Mediterranean Masks, managed the large by the cooperative Viseras, and growing, that has become a major tourist attraction for the whole territory. Meanwhile, it gains more and more popularity, and is often called to perform in many areas of Sardinia, Italy, abroad and in many television broadcasts. In 1990 he bought his first own coach to deal with a lot of expenses.
At the beginning of 2000 with the great sacrifice of the group of Mamuthones and Issohadores (and not only), the Association acquired 50% ownership in common with the house of the noble Meloni, who later will be restored thanks to the volunteer members, and now became the official seat of the Pro Loco, while on the property of the town was born the Museum of Costumes and Traditions. Of course, the credit goes to the whole community of Mamoiada which has always supported a positive association, with great pride that today is among the most active in Italy. Currently, in addition to the group of adults, are part of the small mamuthones and Issohadores, the dance group, and up ‘ussertu.
Countries visited by the group Mamuthones and Issohadores: Bulgaria, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Slovenia, Greece, Austria, Germany, France, Cuba, China.
Issohadores and mamuthones-HISTORY-
The Mamojadini, they have always known, even those born in 1800, there was never interrupted the ritual, except in time of war. Between the ’20s and ’40s seem to have been the promoters Don Raimondo Meloni, and Uncle Francis Gregu, better known as the friend of Peron, on the occasion of the visit of King Vittorio Emanuele was presented as the Mamuthone largest Mamoiada, from emphasize the fact that in the mid-’60s and now 75-year-old was still part of the group. For many years, the dressing was held in the courtyard of the noble Meloni. Subsequently, the organizational task took Uncle Constantine Atzeni, Uncle Peppino Meloni “Gabuda” etc. … Tiziu Atzeni was very keen to our tradition, just think that in 70 years he dressed still Mamuthone, and for fear of losing began to enter the children with adults, which paid off because today we still enjoy many of his teachings and carry forward a tradition unique in the world, pride in Sardinia.
THE RITE
Until the mid-70s the rite began a few days before the event itself, as the shepherds used to go to the countryside to find most of your equipment for dressing, was gathered in the cattle fence and stripped of bells, after which he returned to the village and these were placed in the straps, the Mamuthone or issohadore who had no need, he asked to borrow to friends and acquaintances, piece here piece there, to compose the full costume. Watching old movies, you can clearly see the difference now, many mamuthones had no mastrucca, mask etc. .. revolted against the jacket to not spoil it, since they had only one, the issohadore had to be beautiful and elegant and all that was flashy you put the mask was replaced by a piece of cloth, “of curittu” from a sweater red, “knows berritta” from a hat, etc. … Today the economic situation is very different, each individual has his costume staff, with regard to the bells, ropes, masks, etc. … ‘s Association has everything you need, and if a Mamojadino decide you want to join the group, is always welcome, and would have no problem in finding the costume.
THE DRESSING
Once the dressing was done in concealed manner, usually took place in a private courtyard and you could only access a few friends who helped, and then we did the tests until it was impossible to perform the dance in a uniform way. The moment they left the courtyard, men should be all masked and no one had to know who they were, during the parade instead discovers the face. Today there is no need to rehearse, because we are strong enough, because every year they even thirty performances.
For some ‘time the pros-site to fulfill the requirements of tourists, decided to assist all those present. The clothing of the Mamuthone, is usually performed by two Issohadores, and have a lot of expertise, otherwise it could compromise the parade. Finished dressing, the head issohadore gives the positions to be taken in each: the mamuthones are arranged in two parallel rows and must obey and dance when he is ordered by the head issohadore (such as a high priest of Nuragic) and should not have contact with none during the parade (which now no longer the case), the Issohadores once taken his position in front of and behind the group, you can move freely and have the task of escorting the mamuthones at the same time with the snare capture young women in good omen for good health and fertility. Once you caught the big landowners to wish him a good crop year: they received the honor to repay, invited the entire group to their house and offered him wine and desserts. Today, since there is (thankfully …) plus the wealthy, he turns his attention to the authority as the mayor, the commander of the weapon etc.., Or to his friend as a sign of affection, a bit ‘of years ago, were also taken to lasso the then presidents of the Republic Sandro Pertini and Francesco Cossiga, while the president of Sardinia Reg Federico Palomba was captured during the Venice Carnival.
THE MEANING
Being a very ancient tradition, no one can know with certainty what the meaning of this ritual, the first to write about was the scholar Raphael Marchi, who described the ceremony as a victory for mamojadini Issohadores against the Saracens died mamuthones invaders. Today, many assumptions are: good and evil, winners and losers, winter and spring, the rich and the poor, the sadness and the joy, the young healthy and strong, and the old tired and sick, or maybe they were all of these things together …??
To emphasize is the fact that until the ’50s and ’60s, the mamuthones were mostly elderly, while Issohadores young today have almost been reversed the situation and often see young mamuthones, along with Issohadores already anzianotti. Each garment has a specific meaning in time surely have been many changes and developments, but we must turn our attention to the whole rite (clothing, fashion show etc..) That has remained unchanged over the centuries.