A tradition that is shattered, literally, with the issuing of a new ordinance in Olbia. Mayor Settimo Nizzi has decided to put an end to one of the most picturesque and noisy wedding rituals: the breaking of dishes.
This gesture, full of symbolism and joy, according to the ordinance, showed its less festive side, becoming a source of potential danger for the guests and a problem of public decorum. The sound of the plates shattering on the asphalt, a symbol of prosperity and good wishes for the spouses, will be replaced by the precautionary silence of the regulations.
The Mayor explains that, despite the festive intent, abandoned shards represent a real risk of injury, especially in the summer months, when sandals and bare feet become the norm during the celebrations. Furthermore, the effect on the cleanliness and image of the city cannot be ignored. Olbia, with its growing tourist flow, cannot afford to see its streets adorned with ceramic remains. This decision, although it may seem like a brutal farewell to a piece of wedding folklore, is part of a broader framework of measures that the mayor has adopted over time, such as the ban on smoking at outdoor tables in bars, the public buildings and to release balloons during celebrations.
However, we must ask ourselves: are we faced with an inexorable process of cultural sanitization in the name of safety and decorum? Is this the fate of our deepest traditions, to be suppressed under the weight of modern regulations? Progress and security are undoubtedly necessary, but at what cost? The breaking of dishes at weddings, a perhaps minor but meaningful custom, reminds us that every tradition has its role in the weaving of our cultural identity.
How much are we willing to sacrifice for a clean and tidy image? The answer is not simple, and while some might welcome the ordinance as a step towards greater civility and respect for the community, others will see in the din of plates that no longer break the echo of an Italy that risks losing pieces of himself, smoothed and cleaned until they become unrecognizable. Perhaps, instead of banning, we could seek a compromise that would allow us to keep our traditions alive without putting public safety at risk. But, for now, in Olbia, the sound of crashing dishes will remain just a memory, replaced by the silent clink of regulations that continue to shape our social coexistence. And who knows, maybe one day, looking back, we might ask ourselves if we made the right choice.
