Ottana typical Carnival, highlights the level of poverty of the past in the world of sheep farming and agriculture. The carnival, from the past, is one of the most awaited occasions by inhabitants of Ottana, and sees a broad popular participation. On this occasion also to widows was allowed, as unrecognizable, disguise, then break the daily behavior, characterized by the utmost discretion and composure.

What makes unique and characterizes the Ottana Carnival are the “Sos Merdules” and “Sos Boes”, that is typical masks of secular tradition.
“Sos Boes” wearing white intact sheep skins, and carry on the face “Sas Carazzas” (wooden masks), which depict animals, with more precision oxen. They are equipped with horns more or less long worked in intaglio. The front carry a star and two leaves along the cheekbones.

They wear also, as bandoleer,  about forty kilograms of bells, known as “Sonazzas” hooked on a leather strap placed over one shoulder. “Sas Sonazzas” are divided into various types. Most admired the “Sos Brunzittos” (typical for their loud sound) and “Sas Sonazzas” (for the sound characteristics closed but strong and because of their large size). “Sos Boes”, jumping, running and waving, make noise throughout the exhibition period.

“Sos Merdules” represent  man and wear white skins as “Sos Boes”, sometimes black. Lead also typical wooden masks with human form, usually deformed, indicating fatigue of daily life.  They have “Sa Taschedda” on shoulder, similar to a leather backpack. This object reminds us that in a not very remote past, peasants and farmers needed to transport food to be consumed in the country at work.

“Sos Merdules” through the ritual, have in fact been the constant struggle between man and animal, for survival, to determine the predominance of the first on the second.
Is known indeed that “Sos Boes” (the oxen) were “instrument of production”, used for working the land. “Sos Boes” have a rhythmic walk marked by  jumps and sometimes create confusion among the people; or throwing  on the ground, stage a sort of rebellion to the orders of “Sos Merdules”: these pursue “Sos Boes”, holding “Sa Socca” (a kind of leather rope) or a wooden stick, to subject and control them. This ritual, from generation to generation, is repeated in the streets of the village; but the meeting point between the community and “Sas Carrazzas” is the central square of St. Nicola where all perform  the traditional Sardinian dancing of Ottana.

There are other wooden masks look like animal. They represent “Sos Porcos” (pigs), “Sos Molentes” (donkeys) and “Sos Crappolos” (deer).
Another typical mask is “Sa Filonzana”. It is, usually, a masked man with the appearance of a widow who spin wool, or better spin “the thread of life”.

It brings with itself a scissors that, in case it encounters the unpleasant person, it uses to cut the wool thread. The ritual would wish that person misfortune and malaise in general.
One particular tool, which was much used in the past is “S'Orriu”. This is a cork “drum”, with one end covered with a donkey skin with a hole at the center through which flows a thread. Rubbing the lace with one hand you create a sound that frighten or make very restless horses. In the past it was used in the country  to scare away undesirable animals.
All that reveal the essence of Ottana Carnival: spontaneity, improvisation and freakish behavior of the entire community, masked as well not masked. These are the special features that make it so striking.