Traditional Dress of Magomadas

Historical background and roots of tradition

Magomadas, known in Sardinian as Magumàdas, is a village in the Planargia region, in the province of Oristano. Its name derives from the Phoenician-Punic expression Maqom-Hadash (or mqm-hds), meaning literally "new city" or "new place" — a testament to the millennia-old presence of Semitic peoples along the island’s coasts and hinterland. The territory preserves important Nuragic remains, including megalithic structures and a sacred well, attesting to continuous habitation since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages Magomadas belonged to the Giudicato of Torres and subsequently to that of Arborea, before passing under Aragonese rule as a fief. The village is renowned throughout Sardinia for the cultivation of the prized Malvasia di Bosa wine, one of the island’s most celebrated varieties, whose harvest still marks the rhythm of the seasons. The landscape is characterised by the gentle hills of the Planargia, with views stretching to the sea, and by the intimate atmosphere of a community that has carefully preserved its traditions.

Women’s dress

The bridal dress — Estire ‘e isposa — features the headscarf Muncaloru de rasigliu, black and violet in patterned silk, square-shaped with applied fringes along the edges, worn folded into a triangle with the ends left loose. The shirt, Camisa, is white cotton, very high-necked and richly embroidered on the chest and cuffs; the fullness of the fabric is gathered at the cuffs with embroidered pleating in stylised motifs.

The bodice, Imbustu, is blue in polychrome floral brocade, stiffened with dwarf-palm boning, and is laced at the front with a crosswise red cord. The skirt Munnedda ingaggiada (train skirt) is black tibet, with pleats at the back creating its characteristic trailing shape. The apron Falda is black cotton, embroidered along the lower edge.

Men’s dress

The headgear Berritta longa is a black woollen hat, tubular in shape with rounded edges and about one metre long; woven in a single seamless piece, it is worn folded back on itself. The shirt Entone is white cotton with embroidery on the collar and cuffs.

The jacket Zippone is black velvet, double-breasted: the fastening allows the front panel to be worn on two sides, with narrow buttonholes for work and very large buttonholes closed by black faceted glass buttons for festivities; the cuffs are fastened with three buttons and the lining is checked cotton. The waistcoat Este is black lambskin.

The trousers Caltzones are white cotton, reaching to mid-calf and worn tucked into the gaiters. The short kilt Ragas is black orbace, edged with red ribbon and reaching to mid-thigh; a narrow strip of fabric joins the front and back panels passing under the crotch. The gaiters Fosas are black fustian, trimmed with red ribbon, covering the calf and ending in a rounded shape that conceals part of the shoes, secured below the knee with a lace. The belt Chintolza is brown tanned leather.