Junk food, fireworks, statue carrying, blaring band music, a total lack of personal space... this is how it's done!
viewingmalta.com
Often mistaken by tourists as gunshots ripping through the air, the daytime fireworks throughout Malta and Gozo are a sure sign that summer is here, and festi (festivities) are abound. Every summer weekend, a village parish church and streets leading up to it 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 - sometimes in more than one part. In fact, there are over 80 festi throughout the archipelago's summer. It's a unique and highly festive experience, definitely recommended to festi rookies.
Don't eat before you go.
Part of the joy of a festa is allowing yourself whatever your heart desires from one of the many festa kiosks along the way. A lot of it isn't particularly Maltese, but rather mostly hamburgers, hot dogs, pizzas, sweets, and a host of other foods. Most festas have a stand selling imqaret - deep fried date cakes, which you'll smell before you see. Another local treat you'll doubtlessly find is nougat, known as qubbajt. Let it be known that a festa isn't a festa without a bottle or two of Cisk - Malta's local beer.
Don't worry about personal space.
If you don't like crowds and you don't like being touched, just don't go. The Maltese people in general don't have issues about standing close to each other, but when it comes to festa time, walking around is like slowly moving in a very large group hug. Get into your love-all-humanity mode before going.
Get ready for some loud band music.
Each village has its local band, and marches are an integral part of the festa celebration, with the band performing festa favourites, many of which are composed by local maestros.
When they carry the statue.
Apart from the fireworks, the highlight of any festa is the carrying of the statue. It's considered a privilege to hoist the patron saint statue out of the church and onto a prominent place in the village square. This is usually followed by a lot of cheers by an eagerly waiting crowd.
Walk around.
If you're renting a car while on the island, don't attempt to park close to a village festa. While the party takes place on the main street where the church is situated, a lot of the surrounding streets are cut off as well, so that the area becomes a pedestrian zone. The fireworks definitely won't begin until it's dark, so if you stay glued to the same spot, you may grow restless waiting for the best part.
Expect to be blown away by an amazing fireworks display.
All the villages compete to achieve the best fireworks display on the island, which means that there are no holds barred, no expense spared. It's summer... so there's no school for children to get up early for, the result of which is that the streets are packed with families until late in the evening. Since the village waits the whole year for their festa, they often milk the grand fireworks display for as long as they can - which means you might wonder if it's worth waiting for. It is. Just when you think those fireworks can't get any more spectacular, the grand finale comes, and awes everyone with its magnificence.