Deeply rooted in Malta’s history, the feast of San Girgor has been a popular traditional event since the 1500s.

The event, which according to popular belief is related to a general vow by the public on their deliverance from the plague, goes back to 1543 but may have started as early as 1519.

This popular day is celebrated on the first Wednesday after Easter Sunday and originally consisted of a pilgrimage by confraternities from all Maltese parishes starting from Mdina and ending with a religious ceremony at the Żejtun parish church.

Today, the pilgrimage is somewhat shorter and starts from the chapel of St Clement in Żejtun.

This year, in its drive to encourage and strengthen the traditional and folk elements of this feast, the Festivals Directorate within Arts Council Malta will be supporting the annual event.

In Guardia re-enactors will take on the role of knights from the Order of St John and will accompany the procession to the old parish church, San Girgor.

Along the way, artisans will be working on their particular traditional crafts.

After Mass, a group of għannejja and musicians will entertain the crowd with short traditional songs.

They will then get on two animal-drawn carts prepared for the occasion and make their way to Marsaxlokk, following the old route to the fishing village, where two platforms will be set up.

Throughout the afternoon, a folk programme will include two of the main types of traditional għana – daqq tal-prejjem and botta u risposta.

Nearby, there will also be a number of stalls with traditional crafts such as the loom, filigree, pottery, cane work, glass and lace.

The event is organised by Arts Council Malta in collaboration with the Żejtun Local Council and the Marsaxlokk Local Council and will take place tomorrow at 9.45am. For more information visit www.għanafest.com or call Art Council Malta on 2339 7000.