The tradition of the festival of Sant'Efisio originated in the mid seventeenth century when a terrible plague swept across Sardinia decimating the population in four years. Ten thousand people died in Cagliari alone and the town councillors prayed to Sant’Efisio to save the city. When the epidemic finally passed in May 1657 the people of Cagliari kept the promise they had made to the saint and carried his sacred image in procession from Cagliari to Nora, where he had been executed. Since then this date is considered as the year this age-old tradition began. The festival of Sant'Efisio takes place every year on 1st May and is a magical celebration of faith and folklore, the sacred and the profane. (text from Activsardegna)