During the Summer each church in Malta (of which there are 313 in Malta and 46 in Gozo according to Wikipedia) has it’s own festa- or feast- to celebrate the patron saint of the local parish.
It usually consists of unnecessarily loud fireworks being let off intermittently throughout the DAY from about 9am. The point if this? No idea. In fact, no one seems to have any idea, not even the Maltese themselves. They literally let off a plethora throughout the day when no one can see them and the only purpose they seem to serve is to annoy and to set off as many car and apartment alarms as possible. It’s quite possible on your first visit to Malta to wake up and seriously believe that you’re being bombed. That is how loud they are!
Then at night the roads get closed and everyone congregates in the streets and then… nothing really happens. There are a few burger stalls, some candyfloss and donut sellers. Fireworks do go off but it’s certainly not a proper display, they let off about one or two every 15 minutes. The main event is a marching band and religious folk carrying a larger than life statue of Jesus or Mary which inevitably gets caught on the lights they have strewn from building to building.
This was actually quite funny, watching 15 foot Jesus attempting to hang himself on the glowing wire of the fairy lights. It was like a symbolism of religion in modern day culture and probably shouldn’t have been comical but most definitely was.
The effect is quite pretty, I love all the lights and the banners hanging in the streets, and even if the statues and chanting are a bit creepy, it’s nice how everyone comes together to celebrate. But all in all, I don’t really get it. I’d understand if there was music and the kind of stalls where you do something like throw hoops or balls and win prizes but as it is, everyone seems to come out especially and then just do nothing.
All in all it was quite nice though. Joe, Chris, Nanny and I walked about a bit then went to the Kennedy Nova hotel rooftop bar for some drinks whilst watching the occasional firework. Nanny had a good singalong with the keyboard player and it was a really nice relaxed evening.
Archers and lemonade please :)
Very clear that expectations depend on what you are used to!
I am Maltese and live in Denmark, where all the village feast has is “the kind of stalls where you do something like throw hoops or balls and win prizes” and I must admit it just makes me sad! I like the feeling that people in the village feasts in Malta are happy to just be there: It is their party and as a village person you feel that it is something you are part of, rather than somewhere you go and expect people to take your money. You can easily go and spend nothing at a feast (though you normally do). After all, I don’t expect there to be stalls when I go to my friends birthday party: I am happy to just BE with my friends.
I have been moaning about this to my boyfriend this past weekend, so it is hilarious to read the exact opposite of what I have been saying. Will have to share this post with him!
Do you know what, when you put it like that, it makes a lot more sense. Like they’re just content to meet up, enjoy the warm weather and spend time in their neighbours company!
I think I am too used to having something to entertain me that I forget it’s possible to entertain yourself! xx
Glad I could explain myself there! I have been struggling all weekend trying to explain to Danish friends what I expect there to be at a village feast. The practice seems to have paid off ;)
There should be stuff to entertain you too though: There’s fireworks, bands playing, and the never ending fund of commenting on everyone who passed by!
Keep up the blogging! It’s great (and hilarious) seeing Malta from the eyes of a foreigner
Yeah, I agree with the previous post.. You really have to be Maltese (which I am too) to get this. Every year people complain about the Bomba, but it’s a bit like complaining about your inlaws at Christmas. Thier your inlaws and it’s something your allowed, supposed and look forward to to doing. The gathering is also a family thing and something that marks Malta out. It’s one of the small reasons Malta has such a strong community feeling still, while the rest of the world has slowly become so horribly anonymous.
aye you’re absolutely right, it is nice to see 3 or more generations just sitting around chatting away and enjoying themselves.
I come from somewhere where you don’t talk to the people in the same building let alone the rest of the street or village, families are often strangers and gatherings like this just dont exist so it can be hard to understand but when I think about it as you’ve made me do, I can really see just how great these festas are.
Although fireworks in the daylight will always infuriate and confuse me haha!
I think it sounds pretty cool… everyone just hanging out in the street! Are the fireworks simple or more colorful?
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What an arrogant and ignorant way to diminish a countries custom that are older then car alarms and whatever device you think was in mind back in the days this custom was started. I am a proud Maltese and to be honest if you were in front of me having this argument I would ask you if you were american. Regardless please do us Maltese a favour and stick to the trailer parks, were there is no culture or history. And Back off my country and its customs, you arrogant ignorant uncultured ass. Yet another Johnny comes shortly who thinks half an hour in my country makes him, her or it, an expert.
Haha Karen, calm down and if you don’t like MY blog then stop reading. I live in ‘your’ country and am therefore allowed an opinion. Also if you actually read the post and my subsequent comments you’ll see that I do actually enjoy the festas- it’s lovely to see so many generations socialising, enjoying the lovely weather and atmosphere. What I don’t like (or understand) is the day time fire works- my only actual qualm with the festas. Fireworks are an evening pursuit and having them during the day when no one can see them- what does it mean? Please enlighten me. And then click close and stop reading MY blog if it offends you so much.
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