Muted celebrations in two of seven towns

Seven localities - Victoria, Ghaxaq, Qrendi, Mosta, Mqabba, Attard and Gudja - yesterday celebrated the feast of Santa Marija but Ghaxaq had to forfeit the outdoor celebrations.

This was the second year running that Ghaxaq was unable to hold outdoor festivities after their cancellation last year by the Archbishop's Curia because it felt "the right environment for a celebration in a truly Christian spirit was missing".

This year the Curia allowed the outdoor celebrations to take place in the two feasts held in Ghaxaq, that of Santa Marija - or the Assumption of Our lady - and St Joseph.

However, sources said the police did not issue the necessary permits. A police spokesman contacted yesterday was unable to confirm or deny. Qrendi had a more sombre feast than most other localities - this was the village's first feast following the death of five youths in a horrific traffic accident last October. The five young men -David Sacco, 13, Fabio Magro, 16, Marco Abdilla, 17, and Emanuel Vella and Christian Camilleri, both 18 - were all members of the Santa Marija Band Club youth committee, and were remembered during the celebrations.

Mario Zerafa, secretary of the St Mary Philharmonic Society, said that part of Monday evening's fireworks display was dedicated to the young men. More than 200 fireworks were set off during the two-hour show, called The Conquest Of Darkness. A Gregorian version of Tears In Heaven accompanied the fireworks.

Mr Zerafa said a programme on the locality's community radio was also dedicated to the boys as part of the celebrations. He explained that last year they had taken part in radio programmes and clips with their voices were used in the remembrance.

Apart from being the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15 also marks the anniversary of Operation Pedestal, the World War II convoy that just made it to Grand Harbour in 1942 with desperately needed food and supplies for the population.