Don't miss out on the unique and fabulous experience of a Maltese festa. Here's where they're on this week.
Every summer weekend, a village parish church and the surrounding towns and villages 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 - so much so that locals and visitors often joke that there's no break from the fireworks in the summer months. And well, they'd be right: there are over 80 festi throughout the archipelago's summer. It's a unique and highly festive experience, and one that is definitely recommended to festi rookies!
The festa doesn't just take place on the main day though - the majority of towns and villages have a program of religious activities five days leading up to the final festa day. A week before the festa, the statue of the patron saint is placed in a prominent place in church.
Not even the summer heat stops village enthusiasts from decorating the main streets with decorative banners. 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. Meanwhile, band clubs get ready to play the musical programmes and marches which they have been practicing for months.
Typically on festa day, while celebrations start with day firework bangs, the real action begins when the sun goes down, and the glorious lights can be appreciated. There's a lead up to fireworks and the grand finale can take place quite late.
This week, look out for festi in the following villages:
Kirkop - St Joseph Church, July 8th
Gzira - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, July 8th
Balzan - The Annunciation Church, July 8th
Kercem - Our Lady of Relief (Sokkors) Church, July 8th
Fgura - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, July 8th