Fireworks, doughnuts, music... what's not to love?
There’s nothing like a summer festa to welcome you to Malta, and more specifically, village life on the island. Every locality has its very own feast where nougat, doughnuts, saintly statues and ground fireworks are expected. Locals in the scene work hard throughout the year to plan the feast, making sure every element is as good as (or better) than the previous years. In the height of summer, July doesn’t fall short of festas, and here are some of the top picks for this week.
St Joseph’s Feast, Msida
St Joseph’s feast reaches full effect on 22nd July this year, where locals and the interested few will head to the village square, just by the church. St Joseph is the patron saint of Msida, so you can expect to see quite a bit of iconography relating to the religious figure. The celebration does not stop there though - for a full week, a number of activities are organised to entertain the public - the most impressive being the gostra. The gostra is a traditional game that demonstrates agility, tactic and speed, and involves an attempt to traverse a greasy pole - now that's spectacle!
The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Zurrieq
Head to Zurrieq from 20th to 22nd July for a display of fireworks, band marches, processions and spectacular coloured lights that adorn the church façade for all visitors to appreciate. The religious connection with this feast involves the carrying of a titular statue through the streets, with crowds of lay people paying reverence to their patron saint. Once the religious duties are tackled; it’s time to head to the pjazza for a well deserved pint while watching the fireworks light the skies.
St Margaret’s Feast, Sannat
Take a trip to Gozo for the Sannat festa taking place from 21st to 22nd July this year. The highlight of this festa is probably the performance given by the local brass band, whose orchestrated music fills the streets of this quaint village. Keep your eyes peeled for the street horse racing prior to the evening festivities. If you’re looking for a spot of culture, head into the church and gaze upon the magnificent Stefano Erardi titular painting of St Margaret of Antioch.
No matter the festa, no matter the village, invite your friends to grab a couple of doughnuts, sit on the church parvis and people watch till your eyes turn to the sky for a splendid firework display.