Feasts this week: 25th June

Every summer weekend, at least one village parish church and the streets leading up to it are lit up for their turn at a festa. In the evenings, one part of the island or another will offer a grand display of fireworks - sometimes in more than one part. In fact, there are over 80 festi throughout the archipelago's summer, and if you happen to be here, it's a unique and highly festive experience, definitely recommended to all festi rookies!

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The festa doesn't only take place during the day mentioned, but all towns and villages have a program of religious activities five days leading up to the final festa day. Usually, a week before the festa, the statue of the patron saint is placed in a prominent place in the church for all to admire.

The summer heat does little to stop village enthusiasts from decorating the main streets with decorative banners associated with the feast. All the preparations for the festa are carried out by a group of local volunteers who sacrifice a lot of their free time in order to make sure that their town or village celebrates its festa in the best way possible.

Even those who haven't volunteered will show their support by decorating their balconies with lights and pictures of their patron saint. The village band clubs, meanwhile, get ready to play the musical programmes and marches which they have been practicing for months.

Typically on festa day, celebrations start with daytime firework bangs known as petards, but the real action begins when the sun goes down and the glorious lights can be appreciated. There's a lead up to the fireworks, and the grand finale can take place quite late.