What do you think of Maltese feasts?

I agree with town feasts; they form part of Maltese culture. But I feel we need to rediscover the original meaning of the feasts, which is the religious aspect.

The feast should be about celebrating the patron saint’s life as a model for us. At the same time, the feast’s social aspect – bringing families and the people of the village together – is also a very important factor we should not neglect.

Unfortunately, antagonism between different organisations of the same village contradicts the spirit of a feast, as it is supposed to be a moment of friendship and unity. Pauline Attard, 39, Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in Advanced Studies in Early Years.

It is good to keep celebrating these feasts to keep the culture alive and summer is the best time to have them, so the tourists can also soak up the true Maltese heritage. Jatupol Saenmanee, 23, Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Studies (Hons).

I think they are a fun way to enjoy summer together with the family and celebrate the local saint. Diandra Palazzo, 20, Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture, University of Malta.

How do you think they affect the rest of the population?

I feel what is fundamental in our relationships is genuine respect for each other, so we have to make sure our feasts do not cause inconvenience to other people. Respect remains a top priority. Pauline Attard

On the feast day, there will probably be traffic congestion and road closures; but people should accept that. Jatupol Saenmanee

Certain streets may have to be closed to create more space for the celebration, which will then lead to concentration of traffic flow elsewhere. The sound of fireworks may also annoy some people. Diandra Palazzo

Do you think the constant bombardment of fireworks is necessary?

Definitely not necessary. Noise is always a disturbance and one must also take into consideration the environmental, health and financial impacts of fireworks. Pauline Attard

I think fireworks are the perfect ending of celebrations. Jatupol Saenmanee

I think it is not something necessary but without them, people would feel that something is missing, since it’s a tradition. After all, they are the major reason for the feast’s beauty. Diandra Palazzo

Interviews conducted by Insite – The Student Media Organisation.