The traditional feast of St Peter and St Paul was celebrated yesterday with the annual blessing of livestock and folk singing at the Buskett gardens in Rabat.

One of the oldest feasts in the Maltese calendar, the folk festival known as l-Imnarja includes a number of agrarian and farm animal competitions and a display of vegetables, fruit, poultry and rabbits with folk music (għana) and guitar strumming in the background.

The two-day event, organised by the Rural Affairs Ministry in collaboration with the Malta Agrarian Society, also gives children the chance to see – and sometimes even pet – farm animals up close and personal.

The celebrations kicked off on Thursday evening with a défilé of carts and carriages drawn by horses and donkeys from Saqqajja hill in Rabat to the Buskett gardens.

Yesterday morning began with Mass celebrated in the garden, followed by the blessing and judging of the livestock, horses and donkeys.

President George Abela distributed prizes to winners of the various competitions.

The celebrations, dating back to the 16th century, used to serve as a pleasant break in peasants’ daily toil.

The term l-Imnarja is a corruption of the Italian luminaria, meaning illumination.

Traditionally, grooms used to take their new brides on a trip to l-Imnarja in the first year of marriage, giving the brides an opportunity to wear their full wedding regalia once again.