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When the summer’s high and the temperatures are hot, Malta rolls out its regalia, in the form of the village feast – an experience unlike no other if you’re a visitor to the islands, and one you’ve already probably placed on your itinerary. Indeed, if you’re here this week, there’s plenty to choose from, so much so that it might be wise to head to the closest one, whether you’re based in St Julian’s, the south of the island or even in Gozo.
But, what can you expect? Fireworks are the order of the day and villages compete with each other to see who can dish out the most – and the best. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Balluta Bay comes with some pedigree, but its location lends itself to some sparkles in the sky. Marsaxlokk’s The Feast of Our Lady of Pompei, also happening this weekend, is awaited with much anticipation, with locals actually taking time off work to prepare for the event, and to let their hair down at the weekend (without having to worry about crawling into work on Monday morning).
The greasy pole competition, known as gostra in Malta, is especially popular in seaside towns during their village feasts. The game is slightly hairy (in more ways than one), as men run up a greasy pole, hanging over the water’s edge, with the aim of snatching the flag perched at the end of it. As can be expected, many fall flat into the water, to the shrieks and whoops of the watching crowds, though some majesty can be experienced before that happens in the balletic tip-toeing of the participant up the pole.
And, this weekend serves up something a bit out-of-the-norm for a village festa: the celebrations taking place in Gharb in Gozo come with a load of colour through infiorata, a carpet of fresh flowers artistically displayed in the main square of the village. Even if you’re not based on Gozo, the sight of hundreds of blooms is, for many, worth the ferry trip over.
These are the feasts to watch out for this week:
1. Balluta Bay in St Julian’s: The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 29 July
2. Marsascala: The Feast of St Anne, 29 July
3. Marsaxlokk: The Feast of Our Lady of Pompei, 29 July
4. Paola: The Feast of Christ the Kind, 29 July
5. St Venera: The Feast of St Venera, 29 July
6. St Paul’s Bay: The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, 29 July
7. Zebbug: The Feast of St Joseph, 29 July
8. Gharb in Gozo: The Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady, 25-29 July