€1.5 million spent on feasts last year

€1.5 million were spent on the 122 parish feasts celebrated in Malta and Gozo last year, an average of €12,155 per feast, the National Statistics Office said.

It said that 31 per cent of the expense was on external activities and 16 per cent on administrative aspects. Remuneration of participants made up only four per cent of total expenditure, indicating a high proportion of voluntary participation. A total 3,870 people were involved in the organisation of the feasts.

Total income was €1.3 million, at par with the previous year, the main share - 61 per cent - comprising feast donations.

The NSO said that 3,870 organisers and 8,173 participants were involved in feast processions.

Local choirs performed in 53 per cent of parish feasts, while external choirs were hired for just over a quarter of the events. A minority of one per cent availed themselves of an external choir for free. An orchestra was hired for the majority of parish feast celebrations, with only five per cent using an orchestra belonging to the parish.

A total 455 band performances were given at feasts, including 130, or 29 per cent, were given by local band clubs. The rest were given by visiting band clubs from other localities.