<i>San Girgor</i> feast tradition still going strong

The village of Zejtun was thrown back in time yesterday as a sizeable congregation gathered outside the chapel of St Clement to celebrate the centuries-old feast of St Gregory, known as San Girgor.

The only difference these days is that Archbishop Paul Cremona, who led the procession together with the Fraternity of St Joseph of Rabat, seminarians and the Cathedral Chapter, had to wade through cars and built-up areas.

Traditionally held on the first Wednesday after Easter, the feast probably started off as a thanksgiving pilgrimage on March 12, 1543, though some differ on its exact origins.

Some argue the pilgrimage was held to thank the Lord for freeing Malta from the plague of 1519. Others believe it was a vow after Malta emerged the hero against the Turks in the Great Siege of 1565. Others still insist it was a sign of thanksgiving for the Lord's protection during a heavy storm in 1343.

"However, the most probable theory is that this procession began in 1543 during the time of Bishop Domenico Cubelles who had initiated this ceremony to mark the feast of St Gregory. It was intended as a prayer to God so that peace would reign at a time when European nations were facing wars between reigning monarchies," said Jesmond Cutajar, a person who has taken a keen interest in the tradition.

Whatever its origin, the underlying message behind this pilgrimage was one of thanksgiving and prayer.

The feast was such an important event in the Maltese calendar that it used to be an old custom for new bridegrooms to take their spouses to this feast as part of the marriage agreement.

In those days, it used to be a longer, more complex ceremony that started at the crack of dawn in Mdina with the participation of the Archbishop, clergy and all the fraternities of Malta. Together they used to walk to the Salib tad-Dejma in Tarxien, before continuing on their way to Zejtun.

"It used to be a procession where hundreds of priests, clergy and brothers used to join in," Mr Cutajar said.

Grandmaster Ramon Perellos, who had built his palace in Zejtun, bang in the St Catherine's Street where the procession still passes to this day, used to follow the procession from his balcony.

Nowadays, the congregation has dwindled and only one fraternity still takes part.

The pilgrimage yesterday started from the chapel of St Clement, moved on to the Zejtun parish church and ended at the church dedicated to St Catherine, better known as St Gregory's.

On arrival, Mass was celebrated by the Chapter's Dean and the Archbishop presided over the ceremony.

Traditionally, the public who attend this feast go to the nearby harbour of Marsaxlokk, where some take their first swim of the season. Traditional food stands and fairs are held throughout the day.