Rain stops play at San Girgor

Showers and grey skies led to the cancellation of the traditional procession of St Gregory in Żejtun and deterred people from taking their first swim, but the festive spirit was not dampened.

People still turned up en masse for the Mass celebrated by the Archbishop at Żejtun’s main parish to celebrate the centuries-old feast, popularly known as San Girgor.

Traditionally held on the first Wednesday after Easter, the feast probably started off as a thanksgiving pilgrimage on March 12, 1543, though some differ on its exact origins.

Some argue the pilgrimage was held to thank the Lord for freeing Malta from the plague of 1519. Others believe it was a vow after Malta emerged victorious against the Ottoman Turks in the Great Siege of 1565. Others insist it was a sign of thanksgiving for the Lord’s protection during a heavy storm in 1343.

However, experts believe the most probable theory is that this procession began in 1543 during the time of Bishop Domenico Cubelles who had initiated this ceremony to mark the feast of St Gregory.

Whatever its origin, the underlying message behind this pilgrimage was one of thanksgiving and prayer.

Traditionally, the public who attend this feast descend on the nearby harbour of Marsaxlokk for the first swim of the season, though this was marred by showers yesterday.

Instead, they munched on ħobż biż-żejt and burgers and chips, and played bingo or scoured the open market for a bargain.