Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that Malta is in full Carnival mode this weekend! If you’ve been on the island for a while, you’ll know that these celebrations are a big deal - with a whopping 42 local councils across Malta and Gozo hosting festivities this year, not to mention the show-stopping parades in Valletta and Nadur, Gozo.

But have you ever wondered how this tradition began? Well, Carnival has been on Malta’s calendar for almost five centuries! The first recorded celebration dates back to 1535, during the rule of Grand Master Piero de Ponte, when the Knights of St John were in Malta.

Held in the week leading up to Ash Wednesday, Carnival is the ultimate celebration before the solemnity of Lent. The name itself - 'Carne vale' (Latin for 'meat is allowed') - refers to the last indulgence in food and festivities before the 40-day period of fasting.

The early days of Maltese Carnival saw the Knights organising games, pageants, and tournaments, particularly in Birgu. Over time, these celebrations evolved into grand spectacles featuring masked balls, fancy dress competitions, extravagant parades of allegorical floats led by King Carnival (ir-Re tal-Karnival), marching bands, and costumed revellers flooding the streets.

Each Grand Master left his mark on Carnival traditions, but one of the most memorable contributions came from Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari in 1721. He introduced the 'kukkanja', a wild and chaotic game where crowds would scramble to grab hams, sausages, and live animals hidden under leafy branches. Whoever managed to seize the food got to keep it - one final feast before the Lenten fast!

Today, the biggest Carnival celebrations take place in Valletta and Floriana, where elaborate floats, stunning costumes, and high-energy performances steal the show. But not all of Malta’s Carnivals are polished and theatrical - some are wonderfully chaotic and unpredictable. Nadur in Gozo is known for its dark and satirical themes, with revellers dressing in eerie masks, cross-dressing, or impersonating political figures and clergy with fantastically original costumes portraying whatever's hot (or controversial) at the time. Ghaxaq’s ‘spontaneous’ Carnival embraces tradition with locals raiding their wardrobes for vintage clothes and masks to create quirky, DIY costumes.

Finally, no Maltese celebration is complete without food, and Carnival is no exception! Traditional treats include perlini, colourful, sugar-coated almonds, amd prinjolata – a towering sweet creation filled with biscuits, almonds, and citrus fruits, with an icing topping that's often as chaotic as carnival itself. 

Whether you’re in it for the dazzling floats, the cheeky Nadur antics, or just an excuse to devour prinjolata, one thing’s for sure - Maltese Carnival is a spectacle like no other!

Are you a Carnival fan or grinch?