Festa fit for all the family

I would like to share my views regarding the band march held in the morning on the day of Santa Marija in Victoria, following the letter Festa Unfit For Children by Manuel Borg (August 29).

I too enjoyed following the band march along the beautiful, narrow streets in the historic centre of the town. The ringing of bells during the band march is a matter that was settled in the last couple of years after some years of controversy. With all the tuning sounds provided by the performing bands in that narrow environment it was next to impossible to notice in such detail the ringing of bells.

Moreover, if Mr Borg felt so offended with the booing and wanted to leave the square with his children he could have left from the same street the two performing bands were coming from. There was plenty of time and space available.

There were no rolls of toilet paper thrown towards the church and I do not recall that there was repetitive playing of band marches. All band marches played in the square were different. There are videos to prove this. Perhaps Mr Borg was on the other side of the square hiding behind the plants temporarily installed there, trying to jot down notes of any misbehaviour by the supporters, which did not take place.

The Leone Philharmonic Society, the main organiser of the external festivities of Santa Marija in Victoria, was the first to introduce band marches for young people in order to educate children and this event is held every year on the eve of Santa Marija in the morning. Perhaps the Commissioner for Children should take note of this as well.

Moreover, the same society retains the typical traditional festa and does not hold band marches accompanying statues of the patron saint where alcohol is consumed at the same time. Unfortunately this tradition is fading in other festas.

The majority of festas organised in Gozo, like the festa of Santa Marija of Victoria, hold morning band marches in line with the directives issued earlier this summer by the Gozitan college of parish priests.

The march starts after the pontifical High Mass ends and goes on until 2 p.m.

Mr Borg should admit that the festa of Santa Marija in Victoria was a festa for the whole family. The Maltese and Gozitan families alike who visited the festa in their thousands can testify to this.