Avoiding confrontation in village feasts

I have already written in the past regarding the problems of pique in some of the villages with regards to feasts. I had made some suggestions in the press and to the Curia. Their reply was that my suggestions were being considered. It now resulted that none of those are mentioned in the document just issued.

The Curia, in its infinite wisdom, has come out with Draconian measures or a Hobson's choice, namely kill all village feasts. The problems have been put in one basket without analysing the difference between one parish and another. The main culprits are a few villages mainly towards the south of the airport. Control the culprits, but do not punish the others. Parishes with only one outdoor feast must not be grouped together with those where there are two, or even three outdoor feasts. Even so, for example in Rabat many feasts are celebrated without problems. The inhabitants join in all the feasts, there is no pique. So why should the Curia draw a straight line? Then there are localities with more than one parish church. What should happen, as rivalry is still prevalent?

The crux of the problem is secondary feasts. I had suggested that such feasts should form part of the main feasts. If the Curia has lost my letter I am ready to re-send it. I had offered to discuss the finer points, and am still willing to do so. I am all against the lack of celebrations when the statue is taken out of its niche in preparation of the feast. It is up to the parish priest to make sure that such an event is carried out with dignity. To avoid confrontation, as called for by the parish priests, one must remove any basis of confrontation. By unifying both feasts, much of the confrontational base would have been eliminated. Let us strive for unity; surely this is the best way to fight confrontation!

Three other points are also to be taken into perspective: Fireworks - with one combined feast the pique will be between the manufacturers. This has always been there and will still be part of our small culture. Fireworks, per se, are beautiful. It is the excessive bangs at odd hours that annoy the people. All over the world fireworks are let off to celebrate all types of events, so what is wrong in having them to celebrate a religious feast?

Marches are more complex. These should be controlled by the clubs. I would agree that a Hobson's choice in this regard is called for. Still, there are parishes that hold band marches in the afternoon after all the religious functions are completed. These do not cause problems. In my opinion band marches should not be allowed when a religious function is being held inside the church.

Decorations - both inside and in the streets. The excuse that money should be better spent is as lame as the proverbial duck. The money collected for such a scope will never find its way towards charities.

These keep ardent followers off the streets. With the expansion of villages, more outdoor decorations are essential. Many do not feel they form part of a parish as they are ignored during the yearly event. The same goes for internal decorations. The problem is the pique between feasts, but, if there is one combined celebration there would no longer be the problem of why one feast is celebrated with much pomp while the other is sidetracked.

Together with the local council there should be a week or two of parochial (local) celebrations. Feasts are part of our culture. Even in the Old Testament, Kind David used to celebrate with pomp and music. The Curia should be careful - remove or diminish the feasts and the youths will seek other pastimes which invariably will be removed from the Church.