Celebrations in honor of Saint James

During the celebrations in his honor, the evening begins with the Vespers Mass and the traditional Novena in preparation for the feast. Later, the village comes alive with a performance of traditional Sardinian dances, accompanied by the lively notes of the organetto (a diatonic accordion), drawing in residents and visitors alike into an atmosphere of authentic local festivity.

This is followed by a moving procession through the village streets, featuring horsemen and accompanied by the melodies of a marching band—a moment of deep spiritual intensity and strong community unity.

The Apostle James is, by definition, the patron saint of pilgrims. But due to his image as a mounted warrior in battle, he is also the patron of crusaders, knights, and all who ride on horseback.

The son of Zebedee and brother of Saint John the Evangelist, he was—together with Peter and John—a witness to the Transfiguration of the Lord and to His agony in the Garden.
He was beheaded by Herod Agrippa near the feast of Passover and was the first among the Apostles to receive the crown of martyrdom.

He is the patron saint of Guatemala, the city of The Hague in the Netherlands, Coimbra in Portugal, and the state of Nicaragua.
He is venerated in France, England, Belgium, Germany, and across all of Europe, which is traversed by pilgrimage routes leading to his tomb.
In the Americas, cities such as San Diego in California, Santiago de Cuba, and Santiago de Chile bear his name.

He is also the patron of the dying and of those who have been hanged, as according to Jacobus de Voragine in the Golden Legend, he resurrected a young man who had been unjustly executed by hanging.

He is the patron of pharmacists, dealers in chemical and pharmaceutical products, and grocers, due to their role in supporting pilgrims.
He is also the patron of hat makers, because of the petasus (the wide-brimmed pilgrim's hat), and of stocking and clog makers, because of his close association with feet and pilgrimage.

He is the patron of the Cluniac Order, which protected and promoted pilgrimage to his tomb.

He is especially invoked against rheumatism, as pilgrims, who often slept on the ground and were exposed to the rain, were frequent sufferers of the condition.