Birkirkara celebrates feast of The Cross with blessing of animals

A restored carriage which was used to carry the dead until 1971 returned to the streets of Birkirkara this morning, carried by horses to a blessing of animals ceremony organised on the occasion of the feast of The Cross, being celebrated today.

Carriage owner Louis Borg said that this was one of a collection of six old carriages he was restoring. They were used until 1971 when cars completely took over. Cars started being used in parallel with carriages in 1959.

Mr Borg said that the restoration took him a year but the carriage was restored to its original glory using old photos and filming. He now intends to help revive an old tradition by offering the carriages again for the carrying of the dead.

This morning's ceremony was organised by the Ghaqda Armar and included the participation of around 60 horses and other pets, mainly cats and dogs.

The feast is being celebrated with Mass at 6.30 p.m. at St Helen's Basilica, after which the statue will be taken out in a procession around the main streets of Birkirkara.