As the beloved summer festa season draws to a close, one unique tradition takes centre stage in Żabbar – the motorcycle and bicycle pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of Grace (known as ‘Madonna tal-Grazzja’ in Maltese), the patron saint of cyclists.

The first motorcycle pilgrimage took place on 1st September 1951, when 250 motorcyclists set off from Saqqajja in Rabat to Żabbar on the eve of the village feast. Four years later, in 1955, bicycles officially joined the event, creating a tradition that has continued to this very day.

Yesterday, hundreds of cyclists departed from Rabat, while motorcyclists set off from Mosta, keeping this decades-old tradition alive, some pilgrims sporting some entertaining costumes and two-wheeled vehicles. The motorcyclists were led by a truck decked out in full festa gear, carrying a painting of Our Lady of Grace, beautifully decorated with flowers. 

The pilgrimage, held every year on the first Sunday after the 8th of September (Victory Day), is a fun community event that marks the end of Malta’s main summer festas and the transition into autumn.

Have you ever participated in the age-old pilgrimage?