Olive oil festival in Żejtun tonight

Żejtun will be celebrating the olive picking season today and tomorrow, starting with the Grandmaster's edict called bandu this evening at 7.30 announcing the event.

Żejt iż-Żejtun will feature a defilé of village folk and farmers on carts carrying the olive harvest for pressing.

Drummers and flag bearers in mediaeval costumes as well as folk singers and dancers will take part. Agricultural tools and folk art will be on display.

Today, the parish church of St Catherine, the oratory and parish museum and the recently res-tored painting of the beheading of St Catherine, will be open for public viewing along with the clubs of the two bands Beland and Żejtun.

Freshly pressed oil will be spread on ftajjar and given out for tasting. Olive trees and associated products will be on sale.

An audio visual presentation will feature olive tree varieties and their cultivation.

Tomorrow morning the parish will organise the traditional blessing of horses, cattle and pets.

The church belfries and the church clock will also be open tomorrow morning.