Santu Lussurgiu is one of the few towns in Sardinia that can still boast of 1 Archconfraternity (S.Croce or del Gonfalone), 3 Confraternities (Sts. Rosario, Carmine, Sette Dolori) and 7 active Charity Associations (Sacra Famiglia, San Leonardo, S. Antonio, Cuore di Gesù con Ardia, San Lussorio con Ardia, Pia Società Apostolato della Preghiera, Anime). In the recent past there also existed: San Marco con Ardia, San Giovanni con Ardia and San Costantino con Ardia, San Diego, S. Isidoro, and San Pasquale. A total of about 300 practicing members out of a population of only 2866, according to the 1993 census. The official rites of Holy Week at Santu Lussurgiu are preceded by a long period of preparation by the Confraternities of the town. Some of the Brothers dedicate themselves to selecting and cutting palm branches whose leaves are woven in a traditional technique that calls not only for creativity but also for much patience. A great quantity of woven palm leaves are prepared, according to a clearly defined order and hierarchy: Prama de Priore (palm of the Prior, the Coordinator of the Confraternity of SS. Rosario), Prama de Priorissa (palm of the Prioress, the Coordinator of the Sisterhoods ), Prama de su Correttore (palm of the Chaplain of the Confraternity), Prama de su Prididu (palm of the Celebrant), Pramas 'e Cantores (palms of the Choristers), and then a woven palm for the heads of the Institutions, for the Adventist assistants, down to the distribution of olive branches and palm leaves to the population during the ceremony of benediction held on the Sunday before Easter. In the meantime, the Choristers of Su Cuncordu rehearse the hymns that will accompany the entire rite of Holy Week, while the Sisters, led by the Prioress, Sa Priorissa, are busy preparing the vestments, cleaning the church and decorating it with flowers. Holy Thursday: S'Incravamentu This is the main event for the Prioress and the members of the Sisterhoods that prepare the food for the Last Supper. The menu is, obviously, a frugal one:12 fishes, 12 loaves of bread, 12 oranges (almost always from Milis), 12 artichokes or 12 heads of lettuce and, needless to say, 12 bottles of wine, the best produced in the town during the year. Bearing torches, the Sisters then accompany the Procession of Christ Crucified which, starting from the Church of the Carmine, winds through the streets of the town with the traditional stages of the Miserere chanted by the choir of Su Cuncordu 'e su Rosariu. The figure of Christ already on the cross is borne aloft by the Confraternity of the Rosario, preceded by that of the Holy Cross, and followed by that of the Confraternity of the Carmine with the mourning Virgin, the Confraternity dei Sette Dolori closes the procession. In the parish church the preacher recalls Christ's passion and, while the cross is being raised, (incravamentu) Su Cuncordu chants the Miserere longu. Holy Friday: S'Iscravamentu The procession always starts from the church of the Carmine, carrying the litter and the ladder, and all of the instruments for the ceremony of S'Iscravamentu, and goes on to the Parish Church. At the entrance to the church, already packed, Su Cuncordu chants a verse of the Miserere. The priest directs the stages of the S'Iscravamentu: Christ is deposed and transported among the faithful while Su Cuncordu sings Sa Novena. Then the procession returns to the Church of the Carmine where the faithful can bestow a kiss on the dead Christ lying in the litter and the mourning Madonna. Easter Sunday: S'Incontru This is the scenic representation of the meeting of Christ risen again with his mother Mary. The two figures borne on the shoulders of the Brothers start from different churches to meet in the piazza in front of the Parish Church, where they priest blesses them with incense. The celebration of the solemn mass concludes with the rites of Holy Week.