There’s a special atmosphere in Valletta’s streets these days. Festive bunting of intricate tapestries and illumination are taking over the baroque thoroughfares, as the city prepares to celebrate one of its foremost religious festivals – the feast dedicated to the shipwreck of St Paul, on Malta, in AD 60.

This year, the feast is being celebrated two weeks late, as the usual date, 10th February, coincided with the weekend prior to the opening of Lent. So instead, the Pauline community of Valletta decided to move the celebration to Saturday 24th, in all its pomp, colour and revelry.

I sit down for a coffee with Stephen Baldacchino, 40, right by the side-door to St Paul’s Collegiate church. He is the person responsible for coordinating all the street decorations for the festa, which is now in motion, at full speed.

“Now we are at the advanced stage of hanging our signature pavaljuni, the intricate tapestry-like drapes which adorn the streets from wall to wall. Each street has its own set, which differs from the next, and they all carry symbols related to the patron saint,” Stephen illustrates. “For me this is when festa truly starts, as the streets start to come alive with the colours of our festa, which I find so suiting for the soul.”

The story of how St Paul was shipwrecked in Malta is described in detail in the Acts of the Apostles. It is believed to be a significant turning point in the island’s history, as the locals converted to Christianity.

The hanging of the drapes is one of the final stages of the ordeal, as a great amount of effort goes into less glamourous preparatory work, which is ever so important.

“Decorating the streets of the capital comes with its own challenges. With Valletta being the seat of power of the country, as well as a mecca for shopping and entertainment, the locality may not be as flexible as other towns and villages to accommodate for festa decorations. So, we need to function within certain restrictions, such as carrying out works at night. Mobilising our volunteers to venture the cold winter evenings, instead of staying at home in front of their television sets, takes some special effort,” Stephen remarks.

Stephen is a true festa enthusiast. His involvement and love for Valletta’s Pauline community and its feast goes as far back as his childhood.

“I remember coming to mass to St Paul’s Collegiate church every Saturday with mum and my brother. On the way we would buy a small bouquet of flowers for 10c that we would place in front of the statue of St Paul. After Mass, Fredu the church sacristan would ask me to ‘help him’ ring the bells in the belfry, in preparation for the next mass!”

Even at home, Stephen was a festa aficionado true and true, with things to come foretold in the cutest of ways. “I would decorate our corridor as though they were streets at festa time. I would design and colour my own pavaljuni, made out of paper and hang them to create the festive atmosphere, together with Christmas tree festoons for full effect.”

Getting involved in the various structures of Għaqda tal-Pawlini, which organises the feast, was a natural step for Stephen, who joined the youth section, soon to become its President.

“My involvement in the festa allowed me to develop interpersonal skills, such as working in a team, reaching a common goal and also accepting group decisions that I may not have been too excited about” Stephen recalls. “Motivating people to work within a voluntary environment, takes a special kind of effort, especially in the context of today’s ever demanding lives. But thankfully we always manage to mobilise our dedicated enthusiasts, without whose commitment, we wouldn’t be able to organise any of this.”

“I find that I live for our beloved festa, and it defines who I am. My calendar year doesn’t start in January, as I find myself planning my year from February to February.”

The feast of St Paul in Valletta must also contend with natural challenges, relating to adverse weather, which shouldn’t be a surprise since it is celebrated in February.

“Last year, most of the festivities had to be cancelled, as we experienced a once-in-a-lifetime bout of bad weather that lasted over a week. We are celebrating the mother of all tempests after all, which resulted in the shipwreck that brought St Paul to the island,” Stephen quips.

“This naturally brings with it extra challenges, but I truly believe that it also motivates our members to work harder, make sacrifices and overcome the impossible. It has given us an honourable badge which we carry with pride – that we truly are ‘sailors for all weathers.’”

This feature forms part of The Laid Back Series by GuideMeMalta.com. Bringing to light unique characters, local traditions, and the beauty of old Malta, we search every corner of the Maltese islands to find the most unique of stories that are sure to delight and bring a sense of nostalgia to our readers.

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