On this date - 19th November - back in 1944, a pilgrimage was held from Birkirkara to Bormla (a.k.a Cospicua) to give thanks to God for sparing Bormla's beloved Collegiate Church of the Immaculate Conception from bombing during World War II. The rest of Bormla, however, wasn’t so lucky.

It is recorded that more than 200 bombs fell in the vicinity of the church, but despite the destruction happening all around it, the church defied the odds and remained standing. It was, and still is, considered a miracle by many - although it's not alone! In a similarly famous narrow escape during the same war, a bomb pierced Mosta's Rotunda but failed to explode. Some say it was because of the people praying in the church at the time.

Still, owing to the Bormla church's vicinity to Malta's DryDocks, and all the air raids centred around it, it's lucky escape is not one to be sniffed at! So much so that at the end of the war, a pilgrimage was held on 19th November 1944, passing through the streets of Hamrun, Marsa, and Paola, with the titular painting of Mary Immaculate. It is said that the streets were inundated with people celebrating the end of the war, and throughout the pilgrimage, at least 16 band clubs took part, and various political, religious and social representatives were present. And well, don't take our word for it - check out the amazing footage of the original 1944 pilgrimage below:

Today marks the kicking off of a programme of events marking the start of the 75th anniversary of the pilgrimage. At 5:30pm, wreaths will be laid on the monument of the pilgrimage, as well as that of the war victims. At 6pm, mass will be celebrated with the Mayor and council members in attendance. The mass will also be animated by the Bormla Choir Tota Pulchra. We can't wait what else the Bormlizi have in store to mark the occasion.