Traditional Dress of Nuxis

Historical background and roots of tradition

Nuxis, known in Sardinian as Nùxis or Nùcis (in the medieval-judicial period as Nughes or Nugis), is a village in the Sulcis, in the province of Sulcis Iglesiente. Its name derives from the Sardinian nuxi, tracing back to the Latin nux (walnut), reflecting the abundance of walnut trees in the area in the past. Inhabited since the Neolithic — with a Monte Claro culture necropolis, several nuraghi and the sacred well of Tattinu — the village belonged in the Middle Ages to the Sulcis curatoria of the Cagliari judicature, later passed to Ugolino della Gherardesca and the Aragonese, was depopulated around 1397 and repopulated in the eighteenth century, becoming an autonomous municipality in 1957 by separating from Santadi.

Women’s dress

On the head is worn su muncaroi mannu, the flower-decorated cotton headscarf, over sa tocca, a band of red fabric. Beneath is the white cotton shirt, over which is worn su gipponi, the jacket, with sa perra ‘e sera, a headscarf crossed over the upper front. The skirt sa vetta muscara is in pleated wool with a violet border, covered by su vantaliccu, the apron. Over the shoulders falls su sciallinu ‘e sera, the wool shawl decorated in silk. Jewellery comprises buttons, a brooch, is arracaras (earrings) and a velvet ribbon around the neck.

The bridal dress features the same garments as the everyday costume, except for the silk brocade skirt, the pale-blue fine-wool headdress and sa mantiglia, the white and light-blue satin shawl.

Men’s dress

On the head is worn sa berritta, the black cloth bag-shaped cap, and su turbanti, the red linen headscarf. The white linen shirt (sa camisa) is worn beneath su cossu, the cloth or silk waistcoat fastened with silver buttons, itself worn over sa casacca, the short jacket. The white trousers (sos craccionisi) and linen underpants (is craccias) are tucked into black orbace leggings (su toppettu). The dress is completed by su serenicu, the overcoat fastened with silver frogs, and sa besti, the sheepskin coat.