The Maltese
love festivals and the warm Maltese climate makes
it possible to enjoy these colorful events throughout
the whole year.
Between May and October every town and village
in Malta and Gozo celebrates the feast day or
‘festa’ of its patron saint. The festa
is the most important event in each village’s
annual calendar and the villagers eagerly look
forward to this very special day.
Considerable preparation goes into these celebrations.
The village church, which is the pride of every
villager, is draped with red damask and decorated
with beautiful flowers. All its gold and silver
treasures, as well as the crystal chandeliers,
are put on display thus creating a fitting setting
for the statue of the patron saint, which is placed
in a prominent position in the Church. The church
facade is illuminated with hundreds of multicoloured
bulbs, as also are the streets, across which are
suspended massive and colourful drapes. Hundreds
of flags are flown on roof tops whilst drapes
and light bulbs are hung across the width of the
covered balconies which are typical of Maltese
traditional houses. The houses on the main streets,
through which the religious procession passes,
are generally given a fresh coat of paint for
the occasion, and on festa day are lit up and
adorned so that they look their best.
There is a three-day build-up to the feast and
the atmosphere throughout is one of gaiety and
merriment. On the festa day as the statue of the
saint is carried shoulder-high along the streets
of the village the church bells ring and several
massed bands play marches. Children throw confetti
from balconies on to the passing procession. The
nougat and candy-floss stands make excellent business
whilst the crowds walk up and down the village
streets stopping every now and then for a drink
or to greet an old friend. The noise becomes quite
deafening as the statue is about to re-enter the
church; at this stage noisy but colourful fireworks
are let off in abundant quantities. The Maltese
specialise in the manufacture of fireworks and,
in Maltese inter-village rivalry, fireworks often
constitute the bench mark for comparing the success
of the various festas. During the summer season
there is a festa practically every weekend and
no holiday maker to Malta should leave the Island
without experiencing one. |
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Decorated
church for Festa night |
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