The rain holds off for Birgufest
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
The rain held off just enough for Vittoriosa to come alive last night with thousands of flickering lights from candles and torches during Birgufest.
Downpours earlier in the day clearly affected attendance, although many hundreds of people still turned up. It was also a logistical nightmare for the organisers, who had to take out their torches and candles in the last minute, to avoid them getting wet.
But the rain did not dampen their enthusiasm, with the candles and fjakkoli being seen practically all over the ancient town - the most notable being candlelit pavaljuni.
The festival also included historic re-eneactments, entertainment, food stalls and exhibitions.
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33 Comments
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Anthony Farrugia
Oct 11th 2010, 08:26
Well done and thank you Mr.J.Boxall, Birgu Local Council and all partecipants, above all the people of Vittoriosa. Although the weather was not so encouraging for such activity but all went well as planned. It was a fairytale evening.
PROSIT LIL VITTORIOSANI KOLLHA U GARZZI.
cbugeja
Oct 11th 2010, 07:47
prosit to all concerned.Birgu has been restored to its medeival splendor while still remaining a living city with a vibrant comunity
Dr. Noel Calleja
Oct 10th 2010, 21:50
A very well done to all those involved. What a great evening that has attracted various Maltese and tourist alike. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was magical and the music was great. Being from Vittoriosa myself, although do not live there anymore, makes me proud to be "Mill-Birgu!" We just couldn't stop dancing through the night with the great atmosphere that was created in Vittoriosa Square through the music provided by The Drop Out Band. Insomma....well done to all!
G Darmanin
Oct 10th 2010, 21:06
x Joseph Schembri
You should have explained which parts from Birgufest are Kitsh and also state why in your opinion that is the case. Instead you have just quoted from Wikipedia without giving any credit to the latter!
Saviourr Coleiro
Oct 10th 2010, 20:52
Mhux kullimkien hemm problema tal parkegg....Imma dak il sar il bierah min kunsill u volunterja huwa success dopju li ftit postijiet isib ghax wara gurnata maltemp sa 6pm,il xoghol sar kollu wara 6pm..............................World Guiness Record ghandu ikun dopju..................................................................ViVa IL Belt Rebbiegha..................................BIRGU
Doreen Treeby
Oct 10th 2010, 20:27
PROSIT lil kulhadd ghall-organizazzjoni li kien hawn ghal Birgufest, PROSIT lir-residenti kollha li id f'id flimkien irnexxilna nuru lil kulhadd, li l-poplu Vittoriosan huwa poplu maqghud, meta jorganizza xi haga huwa kapaci u nafu nkunu ta' livell gholi (forsi xi darba tinqata' it-tabu li ahna ta' SOUTH nies pastazi u njuranti).
j.camilleri
Oct 10th 2010, 19:21
Serata fantastika ! Just beautiful. Congratulations and a big thank you to all involved including residents What a great effort with a great success, it should be filmed for hollywood movies. One little suggestion ... please try and avoid that loud music, it doesn't fit at all, it ruined the serenity apart the touch that it was supposed to be tranquil. Malta is full of history and rich with it's heritage. Compliment it in such events with folklore music and dancing and need no mega loud music. Thank you.
John Carmel Navarro
Oct 10th 2010, 18:03
What a load of tosh with your kitsch! Oh well Joseph Schembri how sad for you, you should stay at home and enjoy your own environment. People like you for some reason get the golly wobble when they go to the South of Malta; the Mayor of Birgu has achieved something which many though would be impossible making his City the envy of the whole of Malta. It is extremely wrong to bring Politics into an event that has the whole of the Island waits in anticipation for. With regards to your parking ticket I say what a shame never mind, Birgu can now sleep easy in the knowledge that you and your crowd shall never return.
elena kuersteiner
Oct 10th 2010, 15:05
Me and my family leave in switzerland but have secound home in malta,where we spend all holiday time,and came to malta 5 times a year.First day of Festa we can enjoy than we left.What i found not good is that good group play portugese music or latino music,and there were nothink on stage accept pop sounds.I expect some maltese folklore music,more theater on mane stage,and wenn pop music-than at list performance of kids-they do lovely dance performance really,but not first day of festa.Malta have rich history-so show it!
s.koludrovic
Oct 10th 2010, 16:41
Well said , Good point.
Roberta Avellino
Oct 10th 2010, 14:35
Well done to all the volunteers.
Adrian Wirth
Oct 10th 2010, 14:26
A wonderful and invigorating experience yesterday evening with a palpable sense of a community effort and awareness of the changes brought about in Birgu over recent years. Yes at times there were too many people for comfort but there was a cameraderie and jollity amongst the crowd so there was little pushing or shoving. The tiniest of children with huge eyes looking at the flickering candles and decorations, the concerts - albeit with inevitably too much bass in the violinists electronic accompanyment - providing a wide range of local and international musical experience. Fantastic - congratulations to John Boxall and his team. You're efforts are appreciated and applauded by persons of all walks of life and beliefs. It's time for those whose memories are locked in the past to 'get real' and throw off their narrow black or white perceptions of our modern society. Life for them must be very boring and negative. Thanks again John, the god of the weather saw and appreciated yet another example of your good works for the people of Birgu.
Audrey Callus
Oct 10th 2010, 13:30
@Joseph Schembri. The signs are not TINY at all...they are the normal standard size that you find everywhere around Malta....I am from Birgu and can definitely state that Birgu has been going through its best phase since we have the current Mayor, that is from the early 90s. With all merits and faults, he is always one step ahead and has a vision for Birgu and its residents... The thousands of people that visited Birgu yesterday might also beg to differ with you. Well done to all those who helped out yesterday and also on Friday when we had around 1900 school children visit our city.
Stephen Koludrovic
Oct 10th 2010, 13:24
@ Joseph Schembri,
Why are you so negative, Just because you did not like it does not mean that its kitch.
I,m sorry to hear that on an earlier occasion you got a parking ticket there, however rest assured that parking tickets are got in every corner of Malta. your home town included.
T.Zammit
Oct 10th 2010, 11:56
Very Beautiful- Well done to Birgu Local Council!
Joseph Schembri
Oct 10th 2010, 11:35
Birgu was at its best in the early 90s when Minister Ugo Mifsud Bonnici took a personal interest in his constituency. It is a pity that his son is allowing the 'socialist' mayor of Birgu turn Birgu in something kitsch and unattractive.
Recently I was there during a weekday for a meal and drinks with friends. Restaurants and bars were almost empty and they were happy with our custom but everything was spoiled because we were all given tickets. We all parked properly in white boxes but upon returning to our cars found tickets affixed to our windscreens. On trying to find out why we found a TINY sign, which we could never have seen, saying that this was residents only parking. There were several empty parking slots and we were there to make the residents richer with our money. I wonder how many other people have been made to pay for choosing to favour this place with their custom and hard earned cash?
Birgu and your mayor.. you can forget our custom forever.
A. Depiro
Oct 10th 2010, 13:54
@Joseph Schembri:
1. Tippruvax tippolitizza l-affari billi ssemmi lil- E.T Dr.Ugo Mifsud Bonnici u lis-Sindku 'Socjalist' tal-Birgu. X'ghandu x'jaqsam li qieghed tghid?
2. B' l-attivita li saret il-bierah mux biss ahna in-nies tal-Birgu ghandna nkunu kburin imma MALTA kollha ghax waqqafna REKORD DINJI li bieh pajjizek Malta se tkompli tkabbar isimha madwar id-dinja.
3. Ghandna ahna r-residenti ikollna parkegg riservat, biex meta nigu lura fi 1.30am wara xi hmistax-il siegha xoghol (li bhali hawn hafna) ma noqghodux nistennew bil-hniena lil xi hadd li qieghed jixrob go xi wine bar jitlaq forsi nipparkjaw floku? Dan barra li qedghin insibu hsarat fil-vetturi taghna min xi individwi rresponsabbli wara li johorgu fis-sakra mil-wine bars li hemm imferrxin f'Beltna.
4. Ir-residenti tal-Birgu m'humiex bzonn flusek biex jaghmlu xi kapricc. Alla hares jiddependu min nies bhalek biex jaqilghu Lira (Euro) in-nies. Int ghidt kitsch and unattractive??? Xi hadd baghad ghalik biex tigi bilfors?
5. Live and let live and get a life my friend because I think you have a big problem.
Joseph Daccache
Oct 10th 2010, 14:33
Mr.Schembri, mela tista ma tmur imkien siehbi jew inkella aqbad tal-linja jew taxi biex tmur tiehu meal. Tifimnix hazin imma mela la t ista tmur il-Belt, tas Sliema, B'Kara, San Giljan, Wied il-Ghajn, Msida, Hamrun, Fgura...kullimkien imsomma ax jew taqla citazzjoni, jew warden jew jikklempjawk. Il-Birgu ha r-ruh mindu lehaq is sindku John Boxall u jekk ma jkunx ghalieh u ghal shabu l-kunsilliera u il-voluntiera tal kunsill ma kienx isir dan is success u l-Birgu ma javvanzax. Illejla nkunu nafu jekk il-belt rebbieha tal-Birgu issirx imnizzla fil-kotba tal-Guiness World Records u jissemma l-Birgu u Malta fl-istess hin, mhux cajta u unur kbir. Ghalkemm ghamel maltemp kbir sas 6 PM xorta ma qtajniex qalbna u xol ta 10 sieghat ghamilnieh fi 3 sieghat u b'aktar grinta u motivazzjoni. L-unur u is sodizfazzjon ikunu fer m akbar. Grazzi u prosit lil min attenda il-Birgu Fest 2010.
T.Mizzi
Oct 10th 2010, 14:58
Don't worry Mr. Schembri,if you don't like us and don't like what we do,you're sipmly not welcome in Birgu.
It's a shame there are still people like you that don't appreciate our culture and values.
But we don't care of what you say,we care about the thosands of people who turn up for this very popular occasion every year.
WELL DONE TO ALL BIRGU RESIDENTS.
Patrick Scicluna
Oct 10th 2010, 16:57
Ma naqbel xejn mieghek Sur Schembri , li signs huma zghar.Huma bhal dawk li ssib madwar Malta kollha.Ahna r residenti ta vicin ix xatt nistghu nitkellmu dwar din l issue.
Ma nafx ukoll dan it tmaqdir kollu fil konfront tas sindku taghna li aktar jara l gid li jista jkompli jikber fil Birgu milli l kuluri li qed issemmi inti.Il kummenti tieghek fuq il Birgu u s sindku ma ghandhom x jaqsmu xejn ma semplici citazzjoni.Ghamel bhal ma naghmlu ahna f postijiet ohra....oghqod attent fejn tipparkja jew inkella hallas u ghalaq halqek siehbi.
Keep it up Vittoriosa Mayor and residents.
Andy Catania
Oct 10th 2010, 18:14
Mr. Schembri, I somehow suspect that your comments spring from pure envy and political influences rather than from intellectual enlightenment, but that's just my opinion. A suggestion from me to avoid parking fines when dining at Birgu would be, simply, to come and live here for a few years. You'd be able to apply for a residents' parking permit. Plus, you'd be able to enlighten us humble Birgu residents and our ignoramus-of-a-'socialist'-Mayor (as you consider him) with your own bright ideas about future activities which would not fall into the 'kitsch', tasteless level that Birgufest seems to appear to you. I fail to understand how anyone can consider a world-record breaking attempt an activity of 'kitsch' level. You seem to be the only person who didn't like it - the rest have words of praise. Quite frankly, Mr. Schembri, I agree with these latter people. Our Mayor is always the 1st IN ALL MALTA to be elected, from citizens holding all kinds of political views. Birgufest has always been a success. Oh, and one last thing - if I were the Mayor, I wouldn't even let you live here at all! Stay away, you're not needed here...
L. Pace
Oct 10th 2010, 19:31
Mr. Schembri, I work at Valletta and just to park for a few hours a day i get a bill every month, it would be so much nicer not to have to pay anything at all, but on the whole I think it's fair enough on the residents, we take their parking spaces every day, it'a all a matter of give and take...on the other hand Mr. John Boxall made a decision NOT to charge every one that come to our CITY, BUT INSTEAD he fixed signs to walls, like there is at SLIEMA,etc, PLS NOTE THEY ARE EXACTLY THE SAME NOT TINY AT ALL, to put their parking hour clocks on their dashboards and not pay a cent. But you IGNORED these signs therefore you BROKE THE LAW and that is the reason WHY you got a fine Mr. Schembri... and as for you hard earned cash that is just LOW... I'm studying to be a doctor, my familty is well off, do you think i really need your hard earned cash Joseph?!?! AS IF...you now where you can put your hard earned cash!!! Believe me the days where BIRGU was considered 'Hamallu' are definately over mate!!!!
G Darmanin
Oct 10th 2010, 10:19
x Saviour Coleiro
Yesterday evening we used bus no 4 to go to Birgu and sitting next to the driver there was a guy who all the time was repeating in a loud voice: "Qabda boloh jigru fit-toroq ... ara l-Maltin vera qadt ma raw xejn ... is-Sindku jaghmel dawn l-affarijiet u jien l-ewwel wiehed irrid inhallas tal-parking ... humbad ma ssibx parking ... s-Sindku jaghmel dawn l-affarijiet u n-nies tal-Birgu (jien l-ewwel wiehed) nidawlu ..."
His comments were really disgusting and after reading your comments I was really glad to realise that his opinion is not shared by all people form Birgu (like he tried to imply). Well done to all those involved! It's just a pity that there are so many people who don't appreciate the importance of culture and all the time vilify others who are working so hard to organise these important activities.
Joseph Schembri
Oct 10th 2010, 11:58
You call that 'culture'? Read what the definition of 'Kitsch' is: Kitsch (English pronunciation: /ˈkɪtʃ/, loanword from German) is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognised value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons[1] while making cheap mass-produced objects that are unoriginal. Kitsch also refers to the types of art that are aesthetically deficient (whether or not being sentimental, glamorous, theatrical, or creative) and that make creative gestures which merely imitate the superficial appearances of art through repeated conventions and formulae. Excessive sentimentality often is associated with the term.
The term kitsch is considered derogatory, denoting works executed to pander to popular demand alone and purely for commercial purposes rather than works created as self-expression by an artist.[2] The term is generally reserved for unsubstantial and gaudy works that are calculated to have popular appeal and are considered pretentious and shallow rather than genuine artistic efforts.[3]
Michael Scicluna
Oct 10th 2010, 10:13
A well deserved thank you to the hard working, hands on Mayor, his Councilors, residents, churches, businesses, all clubs and associations etc, of Birgu for giving us such a spectacular event the Birgufest. Even though the bad weather persisted till the afternoon, with patience, care and dedication, the show went on and on and on. It was just spectacular to see no street lights and front doors lit, but just candle light, not to forget to mention the food, drink, and entertainment. Thank you again Birgu.
John Carmel Navarro
Oct 10th 2010, 09:19
The Mayor has transformed Birgu into the envy of Malta, how we all wish to have someone like him. What a fantastic event, for all to enjoy.
J Brincat
Oct 10th 2010, 09:07
Never understood why the three cities of Cottonera do not unite and come up with one common front. There is so much common history and culture.
But well done!
Alfred Grech
Oct 11th 2010, 06:30
If they unite, it will be impossible to visit the three cities in one go. Too large of an area to walk around and many people will end up seeing a small fraction of the decorations and events.
Stephen Koludrovic
Oct 10th 2010, 09:02
Congratulations to the Birgu Mayor and council.
Another good example of what some of our councils who care for their communities are capable of organizing.
James Fenech
Oct 10th 2010, 08:42
Prosit lil kulhadd ghall din l-attivita impekkabli. Prosit lil-organizzaturi u lil dawk l-bliet u rhula li jorgannizaw attivatijiet li jigbdu lejhom maltin u turisti. Jien jidipjaccini li jien minn B'Kara, l-ikbar post ta Malta u la l-kunsill u l-ebda organizzjoni qatt ma organnizaw xejn.
Saviour Coleiro
Oct 10th 2010, 08:01
prosett.....................Lili Sindku u il kunsill...........Kburi
li jien gej mil din Belt Rebbieha....................Birgu for ever...
Ruth Mifsud
Oct 10th 2010, 18:41
prost hafna lis sindku tal birgu is sur john boxoll u lir residenti kollha li taw semhom il birah biex akkost ta kollox is serata kienet ta success proset hafna u keep it up grazzi sur sindku
Doreen Treeby
Oct 10th 2010, 20:22
PROSIT lil kulhadd ghall-organizazzjoni li kien hawn ghal Birgufest, PROSIT lir-residenti kollha li id f'id flimkien irnexxilna nuru lil kulhadd, li l-poplu Vittoriosan huwa poplu maqghud, meta jorganizza xi haga huwa kapaci u nafu nkunu ta' livell gholi (forsi xi darba tinqata' it-tabu li ahna ta' SOUTH nies pastazi u njuranti).