Maltese festi could be given Unesco cultural heritage recognition thanks to a committee set up by Culture Minister Owen Bonnici.

Addressing a press conference, Dr Bonnici said intangible cultural heritage, such as festi and the Maltese language, should be given the same attention afforded to archaeological findings, buildings and other tangible heritage.

The committee, chaired by former health minister Godfrey Farrugia, will draft a report on how to protect festi and promote them locally and internationally.

This will be finalised next summer and sent to the UN agency.

Asked what distinguished local festi from others celebrated throughout the rest of the Mediterranean, Dr Farrugia said village feasts were unique because they were run almost entirely by volunteers as opposed to others in southern Italy, for example, which were State funded.

Himself a festa aficionado, Dr Farrugia is formerly a member of the Malta Pyrotechnic Association as well as a number of other festa-related organisations.

There is no reason festi shouldn’t be considered world heritage

He said the feasts were an integral part of society, stretching across different social strata, uniting citizens in a celebration of ‘Malteseness’ that went beyond their original religious dynamic.

If the Unesco bid is successful, the committee will add festi to the likes of Armenian folk Duduk music, Belgium’s national carnival, Brazil’s street samba dance and China’s dragon boat festivals.

The committee includes Maltese author Oliver Friggieri, representatives of the Malta Arts Council and Culture Directorate and legal consultant Fiorella Fenech Vella.

Dr Farrugia said he would be meeting with feast organisers to discuss what work had to be done to propel the feasts onto the international stage.

“Festi are more than just religious events. In this day and age they have a real economic side. They have also become a major tourist attraction. There is no reason they shouldn’t be considered world heritage,” he said.