Easter, a much-awaited time on the Maltese Islands, has come and gone, but the traditions were as present as ever. Here are just some of our island’s beloved Easter traditions in photos!
1. Stunning decorations
Every year during Easter week, towns are decorated magnificently with candles and lights of all colours, ready to stun during the festivities.
2. Food, glorious food!
It wouldn’t be a Maltese Easter without loads of food - so much that we’ll be eating the extras for the next week!
3. And don’t forget the figolli!
The 40 days of Lent are over, and we can FINALLY indulge in all the figolli we want. Chocolate, pistachio, white chocolate, icing – I’m drooling!
4. The annual parade
The Easter parade takes place on various days over Easter weekend, presenting the story of Easter with locals decked out in full Roman gear. It’s quite the experience.
5. The statues
While I personally have a phobia of these statues (yes, it’s a thing), many flock to the streets to see the procession with statues, depicting various scenes of the story.
6. Street pageants
A few localities put up a pageant about Jesus Christ's story leading up to Easter Sunday, going all out on production, costumes and the works.
Bonus: The yearly (crazy) run with the Risen Christ statue
This run happens every year during the last stretch of the Easter Sunday procession. Those privileged few carrying the statue run towards the church among the crowd. And if it sounds a little dangerous, that's because it is! Over the years there have been a few mishaps, with one statue getting caught on an electric wire, and another having a limb chopped off! Still, it's all part of the fun.
What was your Easter like this year?