The Catholic Church yesterday celebrated its biggest feast: Easter with several towns and villages holding the traditional morning procession with the statue of the Risen Christ.

Following 40 days of Lent and the solemn activities during Holy Week, Easter Sunday is welcomed by both young and old. Applause, cheers and the ringing of bells welcome the statue of the Risen Christ as it is carried along the main roads, on occasion even at a fast pace.

The processions held at the Three Cities are among the most popular, with people congregating in Cospicua, Vittoriosa and Senglea from all over the island.

Renowned among the Easter Sunday procession traditions in Cottonera is the "meeting" of Cospicua's statue with the one of Vittoriosa. On Easter Sunday the two statues face each other in St Margaret's Square, amidst the cheering of the crowd.

Children take their figolla or Easter eggs, wrapped in coloured paper, to have them blessed, a symbolic gesture that has remained popular over the years. Others throw confetti from balconies.

The traditional run with the statue is also holding on strongly in a number of villages. As the statue of the Risen Christ is carried round the village/town by volunteers, other men take over and run with the statue for a short while, to symbolise Christ's victory over death - much to the joy of onlookers, especially children.