10 things to expect at a Maltese feast, as told by Mary Rose Mallia’s famous song ‘Il-Festa’
Maltese festas are a big deal on the island, so much so that a local singer, Mary Rose Mallia, even released a song in 1996 about everything on display at a local feast. Experiencing your first Maltese festa? Here’s everything you need to know and look out for, according to Mary Rose Mallia, at least!
1. Bandalori kollha lwien
Translation: Different-coloured banners
Depending on the village colours, the streets are decorated with colourful banners and materials all welcoming the feast activities.
2. Karti zghar ma’ kullimkien
Translation: Small papers. E V E R Y W H E R E
Papers are going to fly in all directions. From the balconies above, they’re going to fill the streets, your pockets and those crevices where the sun don’t shine.
3. Qubbajt, imqaret, paljijiet
Translation: Maltese nougat, imqaret, hand-held fans
Sweet treats, traditional date-filled imqaret and old people fanning off the heat basically sums up every corner of the village during festa weekend.
4. Ghajjat u daqq tal-marc ghaddej
Translation: The feast band playing
If you’re experiencing your first Maltese festa this year, be prepared. It’s going to be noisy, people will be shouting and the band will be playing all the feast anthems. #Guaranteed
5. Isma x’tghajjat Margerit
Translation: Can you hear Margerit shouting?
Whether it’s Margerit, Ganni tac-cuqqlajta, or Rita’s sister, Rose, everyone from all generations will be buzzing to the festa activities.
6. Karamelli tal-penit
Translation: A traditional Maltese sweet
These traditional sweets can be found at all festas and are long nougat cylinders wrapped in colourful sugar paper. #Sugarrush
7. Trid nixtrilek xi gelat?
Translation: Shall we get ice-cream?
A festa without ice-cream isn’t a festa, well at least a Maltese one. Ice-cream trucks line the streets of the village just waiting for you to slurp up an ice-cold slush or a traditional gelat tal-magna (creamy vanilla ice-cream) topped with nuts, sweet sauces and hundreds and thousands. #Yummers
8. Mela tridx hotdog miz-zghar?
Translation: How about a small hotdog?
Hotdogs, burgers, chicken nuggets, you name it. All the fast food options are available for your weekend festa celebrations, because obviously you can’t drink all that booze on an empty stomach.
9. Mela ghidli, trid ftit karawett?
Translation: Or maybe some nuts?
A selection of nuts and treats are always on display for the festa passers-by to grab a quick bag before heading to the celebrations.
10. Bil-murtali tal-kulur
Translation: Colourful fireworks
The Maltese festa has an important component: the fireworks, or as we call them, murtali. Honestly, a festa won’t be Maltese without a fireworks display.