Luck, it is said, favours the brave.

But, it appears that no one was brave enough to swim at Marsaxlokk this morning, as a long spell of warm sunny weather gave way today to colder and cloudy conditions, on the day when many traditionally take their first dip of the year to mark the feast of San Girgor.

The feast was celebrated with a procession in Żejtun led by Archbishop Paul Cremona. The procession started from the chapel of San Klement to the parish church and on to the chapel of San Girgor.

In the past, the feast was considered an important event in the local calendar and it was customary for new bridegrooms to take their spouses to the feast as part of the marriage agreement. Nowadays, it's just an excuse for people to eat their fill, play tombola and trawl the monti's stalls if they are not swimming.

The San Girgor procession was held for the first time on March 12, 1543 The feast probably started off as a thanksgiving pilgrimage after Malta was freed from the plague of 1519. Others believe it was a vow made after Malta emerged victorious 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.