In Sardinia, the commemoration of the departed goes far beyond mere remembrance; it transforms into a collective ritual that involves communities and families, weaving a deep connection between the living and the souls of those who are no longer with us. The tradition of Is Animeddas, celebrated on 2nd November, is a moment of reflection but also of sharing, with roots that reach back to ancient times, well before the arrival of Christianity. This ritual takes on different forms depending on the area of the island, with names like is animas, is paixeddasa, su mortu mortu, or su prugadoriu, but its meaning remains the same: keeping alive the bond with those who have passed away.
Unlike the more well-known celebrations of Halloween, Is Animeddas is not just a festival for children but a true moment of contact between dimensions, where the sweetness of gifts and the warmth of welcoming tables become a symbol of respect and love for the souls of the deceased. It is a ritual that transforms the collection of sweets into a sacred act, a gesture that brings the younger generations closer to an awareness of the cycle of life and death, teaching them to look with respect and gentleness towards that invisible world that lies beyond our perception.
During this celebration, Sardinian homes are filled with the scents of traditional sweets, such as pan’e saba and pabassinas, alongside dried fruits and pomegranates, ancient symbols of fertility and rebirth. The entire community comes together to honour the memory of their loved ones, keeping ancient customs alive and passing them down to the younger generations, ensuring that no one forgets their roots.
In this article, we will explore the origins of Is Animeddas, the symbols and rituals that make it one of the most evocative traditions of Sardinia—a journey through memory and spirituality, discovering a cultural heritage that continues to thrive through the voices of children and the actions of the elderly.
Table of Contents
Historical Roots and Meaning of Is Animeddas
The tradition of Is Animeddas is one of the oldest and most deeply felt celebrations in Sardinia, a rite that encapsulates the essence of the connection between the world of the living and that of the departed. On 2nd November, during the Commemoration of the Departed, Sardinia takes on an atmosphere that blends the sacred with the communal, intertwining ancient pagan roots with Christian rituals. It is a day that exists in a suspended dimension, where the boundary between life and death becomes thin, and the memory of loved ones is made tangible through simple, yet deeply meaningful gestures.
The roots of this celebration date back to pre-Christian times when the island’s people practised rites connected to ancestor worship. Sardinia, like many other Mediterranean cultures, has always held a profound respect for the departed, considering them guardians of collective memory and an integral part of community life. In ancient times, the transition between the end of summer and the beginning of winter marked a period of reflection and gathering, where the cyclical nature of life and death was honoured. Much like the Celtic festival of Samhain, this was a time of the year when it was believed that the boundaries between worlds were thinner and more permeable, allowing spirits to visit the world of the living.
The Different Names of the Tradition
In Sardinia, Is Animeddas is known by various names depending on the region: is animas, is paixeddas, su mortu mortu, su prugadoriu are just a few of the variations. Each name carries a local nuance, reflecting the uniqueness of every Sardinian community. However, the essence of the tradition remains the same: a tribute to the souls of the departed, a gesture of respect and hospitality that takes shape in the children’s practice of visiting houses.
The children, with their innocence and purity, take on the role of mediators between worlds. They go from door to door, reciting traditional phrases such as, “Seusu beniusu po is animas, mi das fait po praxeri is animeddasa?” (“We have come for the souls, will you give me a gift for the souls?”), and collect sweets, dried fruits, pomegranates, and small breads as a sign of respect for the souls of the departed. It is a ritual reminiscent of welcoming the ancestors and keeping their memory alive through the sharing of food, a bridge between past and present, between visible and invisible worlds.
The Connection with Culurgionis: Memory and Tradition
Among the symbolic gestures of this day of remembrance, the preparation of culurgionis stands out. In the past, these typical ravioli from Ogliastra were not merely a festive dish but a genuine offering to the ancestors. During the commemoration of the departed, Sardinian families would prepare culurgionis to remember their loved ones, symbolically sharing with them the fruits of their harvest and the work of their hands.
The unique shape of the culurgionis, sealed with a braid resembling an ear of wheat, represents a symbol of continuity and rebirth, a nod to the cyclical nature of life. In Sardinian culture, the ear of wheat signifies fertility and abundance, and the braid of the culurgionis symbolises this connection between life and death. The filling, made from simple, wholesome ingredients like potatoes, mint, and pecorino cheese, embodies the flavours of Sardinia, as well as the sense of community and togetherness that defines this celebration.
Eating culurgionis during Is Animeddas was a way to share food with the departed, to nourish their memory and to feel them still as part of the family. Every bite was an act of respect, an invitation to stay close even while existing on different planes. This tradition, now somewhat faded, speaks of a time when family and community bonds were strong enough to transcend the barrier of death, transforming food into a vehicle of love and remembrance.
The Children’s Quest: A Rite of Sharing
The Quest for Sweets and Fruits
In Sardinia, the period surrounding the commemoration of the departed places children at its heart—innocent guardians of an ancient and meaningful tradition. The questua of Is Animeddas involves the little ones, who go from house to house collecting sweets, dried fruits, pomegranates, and candies. This practice, which might appear as a simple game, actually carries a deep symbolic meaning.
The doors of homes open with joy to welcome the young questuanti (petitioners), who receive not only sweets and candies but also fruits like walnuts and almonds, symbols of abundance and continuity. Among the most treasured gifts, the pomegranate stands out for its ancient significance: with its ruby seeds, it is considered the fruit of fertility and renewal, an homage to the Mother Goddess and the cycle of life. This ritual is a moment of joy for the children, but also an opportunity for the community to come together around an act rich in symbolism, where memory and joy blend into a timeless tradition.
A Gesture that Symbolises the Bond between Life and Death
The children’s questua during Is Animeddas is not merely a time of celebration but a true act of communion between the world of the living and that of the dead. Each gift offered represents a spiritual bridge, an invisible thread that connects generations across time. The food given to the children is symbolically intended for the departed, as if every apple, every walnut, every sweet were an offering for the souls that return to visit their loved ones on this special night.
This tradition is deeply rooted in the belief that, on the night between 1st and 2nd November, the souls of the departed return to visit their homes and families. Leaving food for them, setting the table, and lighting a candle are gestures of welcome, as if to say: “We are still united through the gestures of our daily lives.” The children, with their purity, thus become intermediaries between the two worlds, carrying forward a tradition that reminds everyone of the importance of remembrance and continuity.
Even the culurgionis, which in the past were prepared for the Festival of the Dead, fit into this context as a symbol of connection between the living and the departed. These ravioli, prepared with care and dedication, were often offered as a sign of respect and symbolic nourishment for the souls, a way to ensure them a place at the table even after death.
Through the questua and the preparation of traditional dishes like culurgionis, the community renews itself each year, remembering that death is not the end but a passage into a new dimension. It is a celebration that teaches us that, despite the pain of loss, the bond with those who are no longer with us can remain alive in small gestures, in the sweetness of a shared treat, and in the smile of a child knocking at the door in search of is animeddas.
The Symbols of Is Animeddas: Pomegranates and Sapa
The Symbolism of the Pomegranate
The pomegranate holds a central place in the tradition of Is Animeddas, becoming a powerful symbol of fertility, abundance, and regeneration. This fruit, with its ruby-coloured seeds, encapsulates the cycle of life, representing the continuity between life and death. In Sardinian culture, the pomegranate is offered to children during the questua as a symbol of connection with the departed and as a good omen for future prosperity. Its red flesh visually resembles blood, the vital essence which, during this celebration, also becomes a metaphor for the bond with one’s ancestors.
The meaning of the pomegranate is intertwined with ancient myths, such as that of Persephone, the Greek goddess who spends part of the year in the world of the dead and part in the world of the living. Just like Persephone, who eats the pomegranate seeds and seals the cycle of the seasons, the pomegranate in the tradition of Is Animeddas symbolises the passage between the two worlds, life that renews itself through memory. In Sardinia, the fruit was often used in rituals to ensure prosperity and fertility, and its presence on tables during the commemoration of the dead is an invitation to keep the bond with past generations alive, respecting the balance between life and death.
Sapa Sweets and the Connection with Tradition
During Is Animeddas, the preparation of sweets takes on a profound ritual significance, turning the kitchen into a place of memory and sharing. Sapa, made from concentrated grape must, becomes an essential ingredient in sweets such as pan’e saba, pabassinas, and caschettas, which are prepared for the Festival of the Dead. Sapa, with its rich colour and flavour, symbolises flowing blood, a sign of life and nourishment, but also of sacrifice and regeneration.
Pan’e saba or Pani e Congiu, a sweet bread enriched with dried fruits and raisins, is a hymn to life, a celebration of the abundance that nature offers, while also serving as a respectful homage to the departed. These sapa-rich sweets were traditionally prepared and offered to both the living and the dead as a sign of continuity and affection. The sweetness of sapa, combined with the rich texture of pabassinas and caschettas, is an invitation to remember with joy and to celebrate the cycle of life, even in moments of commemoration.
Through these gestures and preparations, the tradition of Is Animeddas becomes a moment of deep connection, where every ingredient and every sweet carries an ancient meaning. The pomegranate and sapa, just like the culurgionis, are not merely food but true symbols of a bond that transcends time, reminding us that the memory of our loved ones is nourished through the flavours and gestures that continue to live on.
From Ireland to Sardinia: Parallels with Halloween
A Connection between Cultures
The Sardinian tradition of Is Animeddas and the well-known celebration of Halloween, which originated in Ireland, share a deep cultural connection rooted in honouring the departed and celebrating the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Halloween traces its origins back to Samhain, the Celtic New Year, a festival marking the end of summer and the beginning of the new year on 1st November. Samhain represented a time of transition, a period when the veil between the world of the living and that of the dead grew thinner, allowing for closer contact with spirits.
Similarly, Is Animeddas is celebrated between 31st October and 2nd November, when in Sardinia, children visit homes in the village, receiving sweets and dried fruits in exchange for prayers for the souls in purgatory. This act, which unites the living and the dead through the offering of food, echoes ancient Celtic practices, where communities left offerings for spirits at their doorsteps to ensure protection during the winter. Although the two traditions arose in different contexts, they converge in their respect for the departed and their understanding that death is part of a natural cycle, a passage to a new form of existence.
The Pumpkin and the Cult of the Dead
An intriguing element linking the traditions of Is Animeddas and Halloween is the symbolic use of the pumpkin. In Sardinia, as in Corsica, there was an ancient rite that involved the use of human skulls to invoke rain during periods of drought. In more recent times, the skulls were replaced with hollowed-out and carved pumpkins, shaped to resemble human heads. These were used during the celebrations to call upon spirits, serving as symbols of protection and connection with the afterlife.
The pumpkin, with its round shape and its ability to transform into a glowing lantern, has become a symbol of transition and transformation, much like in Halloween, where jack-o’-lanterns represent the souls of the departed. In Sardinia, the carved pumpkins, known as sa crocoriga or conca ‘e mortu (dead man’s head), were illuminated from within with a candle, symbolising the presence of the departed who return among the living for a night.
The symbolism of the pumpkin is closely tied to Maimone, the god of rain, affirming an ancient connection with the forces of nature and the ability to communicate with the spirit world. Just like in the legend of Cinderella, where the pumpkin transforms into a golden carriage, in Sardinian culture, the pumpkin symbolises the passage from one state to another, from one world to another, much like the contact between the living and the dead during Is Animeddas.
These similarities between the two traditions show how distant cultures have found similar ways of confronting and celebrating death, reflecting on its nature as a transformation and continuation of life. Is Animeddas and Halloween, each with their own unique characteristics, remind us that encountering the mystery of the afterlife is a fundamental part of being human, a rite that connects eras, lands, and peoples through ancient symbols and rituals of sharing.
The Rituals of Is Animeddas in Sardinia
The Feast for the Departed
Between 30th October and 2nd November, in many parts of Sardinia, the tradition of setting a table for the departed remains alive. This gesture, filled with respect and affection, symbolises the desire to maintain a connection with those who have passed away, offering them dried fruits, traditional sweets like pabassinas and caschettas, and other products from the land. Tradition holds that during the night, the departed can “partake” in the meal, nourishing themselves with the aromas and energy of the foods lovingly prepared by the living.
This practice serves as a reminder that death is not a definitive separation but a passage to another dimension where bonds of affection remain unbroken. Setting a table for the departed is a way to celebrate the continuity of life and to acknowledge the spiritual presence of loved ones, leaving a light burning to illuminate the path of the souls during these special nights.
The Tradition of Su Lumiu and Is Fraccheras
Another significant ritual associated with Is Animeddas is the lighting of su lumiu, a small flame created using a piece of fabric soaked in oil, placed in a container filled with water and supported by a floating piece of cork. This simple lamp, kept lit until the night of 2nd November, aims to guide the souls of the departed in their symbolic return among the living. The light of su lumiu represents a hope that shines in the darkness, an invitation for the dearly departed not to lose their way on their journey and to feel welcomed and loved.
In various Sardinian towns, alongside su lumiu, the ritual of is fraccheras is also celebrated. This ancient custom involves the lighting of long bundles of asphodel, a sacred plant associated with the realm of the dead. The burning and smoking bundles are carried on the shoulders of the strongest men of the village, who run through streets scattered with ash. This act, beyond being a test of courage and physical endurance, has a protective and purifying function: the ashes from the bundles symbolise purification and renewal, as if the fire could burn away fears and uncertainties about the future, preparing the community for the arrival of winter.
Though these rituals differ, they share the desire to keep the relationship with the afterlife alive and to create a sense of community between the living and the dead. Through simple acts like lighting a candle or sharing a meal, Sardinians continue to pass down ancient wisdom, viewing death not as an end but as a natural passage, always accompanied by the love and respect of those who remain.
The Attitadoras and the Cult of the Dead
The Attitadoras: Guardians of Memory
The attitadoras were central figures in the ancient Sardinian traditions surrounding death, women with a special gift for singing funeral chants known as attitos. These laments were not merely expressions of sorrow but true ritual songs that had the power to create a bridge between the world of the living and that of the dead. Through their voices, the attitadoras transformed grief into melody, weaving the memory of the deceased with their words and symbolically guiding the soul on its journey to the afterlife.
The attitos were improvised songs, born from the heart and the experience of the attitadoras, who could evoke with great intensity the most significant moments of the deceased’s life. Often, these women were called upon by the deceased’s family to perform the final farewell, a gesture of deep humanity that allowed the community to partake in the grief of loss and transform it into a collective rite. These songs were not only a tribute but also a form of care for the soul of the deceased and for the broken hearts of their loved ones.
The Role of Women in Funeral Rituals
The attitadoras embody the central role of women in handling grief and death within Sardinian culture. They were the guardians of memory, those who, with their voices and gestures, could channel the community’s sorrow and transform it into a healing ritual. Their role went far beyond mere lamentation: it was an art, a skill passed down from generation to generation, requiring a deep emotional connection with the family of the deceased and the entire community.
The tradition of the attitadoras dates back to very ancient times, when the cult of the dead was deeply rooted in everyday life. Women were entrusted with overseeing the rituals surrounding death, from preparing the wake to arranging the food for the feasts that accompanied funerals. This practice was closely linked to the concept of care and nourishment, for both the living and the deceased, as food and the sung word became tools for keeping the memory of the departed alive.
With their songs and their presence, the attitadoras served as a sort of intermediary between the earthly and the spiritual realms. This aspect also emerged in their movements: the swaying of the body, the intonation of verses, and the repetition of musical motifs created an almost hypnotic state that helped the community reconnect with the divine and process the pain of loss.
A Gift That Tells the Story of Life
The very name attitadoras derives from the Sardinian verb “attittai,” which means both “to stoke the fire” and “to breastfeed.” This dual meaning encapsulates their role: just as mothers nurse their infants, the attitadoras nourish the fire of memory, keeping the flame of remembrance alive through their songs. With their donu (gift), they could ease the pain of a mother, a wife, or a child, offering comfort that went beyond words.
Their singing was a tribute to life that endures even in death, a way to honour the deceased and allow the community to collectively process grief. In the rural Sardinia of the past, the attitadoras were almost sacred figures, whose gift was respected and cherished, seen as a rare and precious ability that only certain women could possess. This special connection between the community and the attitadoras shows how strong the bond between the earthly and spiritual dimensions was in Sardinian culture, a connection that still resonates today in the traditions of Is Animeddas and the customs related to the commemoration of the departed.
An Experience That Unites Generations: The Meaning of Is Animeddas Today
Passing on the Tradition to Children
Is Animeddas is much more than a simple autumn tradition: it represents a bridge between past and present, a moment when the youngest are introduced to respect and understanding of the cycle of life. Today, children who go door to door asking for is animas repeat the actions of their grandparents and great-grandparents, learning to familiarise themselves with death in a natural way. This ritual is not merely a chance for play, but a way to bring children closer to the concept of death, teaching them that it is not an event to be feared, but a natural passage in life.
Through collecting offerings for the souls of the departed, the youngest discover the importance of sharing and altruism. They receive dried fruits, pomegranates, and lovingly prepared sweets, learning the value of a simple yet meaningful gesture. This moment of gathering is not just for them, but also for the souls, creating a continuity between generations that strengthens the bond between the community and its roots. In this way, Is Animeddas becomes an opportunity to pass down the cultural and spiritual heritage of Sardinia, engaging children in a vibrant and participatory learning experience.
A Ritual That Lives in the Present
Today, despite the modern world and the changes it has brought, the tradition of Is Animeddas remains alive in many villages across Sardinia. Sardinian families continue to set tables for their departed loved ones, light su lumiu, and come together to honour those who are no longer with them. This ancient rite blends with the present, preserving its original spirit of respect and celebration of life.
In a society that often fears or ignores death, Is Animeddas offers a more harmonious perspective, where death is seen as a natural part of the life cycle. Sardinian communities, by keeping these traditions alive, manage to preserve their connection to their land and to the generations that came before them. The act of preparing sweets like pan’e saba and sharing the fruits of the season becomes a ritual that celebrates the continuity of life, where the gestures of the past are lovingly repeated in the present, reminding us that the memory of the departed is the foundation upon which the future is built.
Conclusion
Rediscovering Is Animeddas as Cultural Heritage
Is Animeddas is not just a celebration that looks to the past but a treasure of values that continues to enrich the present. By tracing its deep roots, this tradition offers a unique perspective on the cyclic nature of life and the importance of maintaining a living connection with our cultural roots. It invites each of us to reflect on the meaning of memory and the value of simple yet meaningful gestures that manage to unite the world of the living with that of the departed. It is an opportunity to rediscover a heritage that not only commemorates those who are no longer with us but also celebrates life itself through remembrance, sharing, and continuity.
The Power of Traditions in Today’s Life
In an increasingly fast-paced and technological world, traditions like Is Animeddas still have an important role to play. They offer us a way to pause and reflect, to rediscover an authentic connection with the land and with the stories of those who came before us.
These rituals teach us not only to respect death but also to value life, enriching our present with the wisdom and depth of the past. Reviving these customs means keeping a part of ourselves alive, a part that ties us to a land, a history, and a community, reminding us that our roots are what give us stability and strength to look towards the future with awareness and gratitude.