A major part of our cultural calendar, the Maltese festa has changed over the years and is nowadays celebrated with more pageantry than solemnity. Stephanie Fsadni finds that major draws to these events are a sense of nostalgia and the chance to reunite with family and friends.

Solemn processions, loud petards, merry band marches, sweaty revellers,innumerable food stalls, free-flowing beer are some of the elements that spring to mind when thinking of local festas... elements that have tinges of the sacred and the profane.

“The feast is a civic, religious and commercial revival of every town and village,” says history and folklore researcher Charles Coleiro. “And every village has its own character, which comes alive during the feast.”

Celebrations have indeed changed over the years, with feasts assimilating more pageantry and, increasingly, the commercial aspect.

“Feasts nowadays last a whole week, with many including music festivals and talent shows. A more modern aspect is the slide presentation on the locality’s feast or saint, which is becoming widespread,” Mr Coleiro points out.

Meanwhile, pastoral services have become less pompous, using “simpler music” and a less lengthy sermon (paniġierku), in which priests try to focus on modern themes.

Mr Coleiro says that, sadly, attendance to these functions has dwindled. This has, however, happened to a lesser extent in Gozo, where feasts “have remained more traditional”. Outdoor and indoor festivities are also more well-coordinated in the sister island than in Malta, where, for example, the Sunday morning march in some localities starts when High Mass is being celebrated – a “very irritating practice” for Mr Coleiro.

A member of the National Festivities Committee, Mr Coleiro says that the popularity of feasts may have waned in some localities, especially towns, but it is hard to generalise.

One factor that may draw people to these celebrations year after year is a sense of nostalgia.

“People, especially those born in villages, see the festa as a mirror of their childhood days,” Mr Coleiro claims. “And they remain an occasion to reunite with family and friends. The festa lunch is still very popular.”

Feasts are also popular among youths, with many regarding these events as a substitute for Paceville, where they can get free entertainment and cheap drinks.

Celebrations have indeed changed over the years, with feasts assimilating more pageantry and, increasingly, the commercial aspect

Others, however, are actively involved in the feast preparations. Some form part of choirs, are altar helpers or do other voluntary work; while others who are affiliated with band clubs work all year round to promote the outdoor festivities. The irony is that during the festa week, the latter’s energy often “bursts into piques and throwing unholy phrases at rival band clubs,” Mr Coleiro adds.

According to him, the most popular feasts remain those that are also public holidays, that is St Paul’s Shipwreck (February 10), St Peter and St Paul, popularly known as Mnajra (June 29), the Assumption (August 15), the Nativity of Mary (September 8, also known as Victory Day) and the Immaculate Conception (December 8).

“Two of these feasts – the Assumption and the Nativity of Mary – are tied to historical events, making them more important to us as a nation,” explains Mr Coleiro, referring to the Santa Marija Convoy of August 15, 1942, when much needed supplies made it to our shores during World War II, and the victory of the Great Siege by the Knights of St John against the Turks on September 8, 1565.

Mr Coleiro believes that the feasts related to the Virgin Mary are “taken more seriously” than other feasts, showing the extent of Marian devotion on our islands.

The Maltese living abroad, particularly the Maltese community in Australia, cherish Victory Day and hold a proper feast, complete with a procession, on the day.

Mr Coleiro, who has authored various books and presented TV programmes related to feasts, says that these folklore events should be promoted more abroad, just as much as our beaches and other cultural activities.

“They provide free entertainment and are typically Maltese. Our churches are living museums of art and they look their best during feast week with damask, chandeliers and silverware.”

He believes the Maltese feast will remain popular just as long as people keep on participating.

“I only hope they will not lose their identity by copying other festivals abroad.”

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