Many of the customs which go to make up the unique identity of the population and community of Sauris can be traced to a fascinating fusion of different cultures, first and foremost from Germany and Carnia. Apart from the more evident material expression (architecture, preservation and preparation of foods, farming tools and techniques, clothing in use up until no more than twenty or so years ago), it is in the symbolic and religious fields that the most interesting and important traditions are preserved.

Between Christmas and Epiphany the children make collections (Pistelea on the day of the Holy Innocents, 's najor on the first day of the year) and the trail of the Star is run. The trail of the Star involves a group of young people and adults running through the town with a brightly lit, coloured star, singing Christmas songs from yesteryear (the Star Songs or Stearnliedlan) in old German, Italian and Latin. The Carnival, which had fallen by the wayside, has now been resuscitated, though with some modern adjustment.

At the call of the röller, who wears a belt full of noisy cowbells, the participants, wearing old clothes and hats decorated with paper flowers and ribbons, their faces covered by wooden masks, veils or simply blackened with soot (rues), assemble and pass through the streets of the town following the kheirar and players. The kheirar, armed with a huge broom, invites the masques to dance, each couple in turn, and between the exit of one couple and the entrance of the next sweeps the floor to symbolically drive out the winter and negative forces to make room for renewal and spring.

During Holy Week the children flock through the streets shaking deafening rattles, the confused noise supplanting the sound of the bells while in the churches sombre services celebrate the Passion and Death of Christ.

Every hamlet holds its own special religious celebrations.
Held particularly dear are those dedicated to the Madonna and to the Patron Saints, whose statues are carried through the streets in solemn procession. Ceremonial blessings are made on these and other religious occasions (water, salt and fruit at Epiphany, bread at Easter, the blessed posy at the Nativity)