Culture Minister Mario de Marco today called for more spontaneity in carnival and remarked that "we have to learn to accept political satire".

Launching this year's carnival programme, the minister announced that the government had allocated €700,000 for the creation of a carnival village and a new site had been earmarked in Corradino where 22 warehouses will be made available for carnival enthusiasts.

He said that about 60,000 volunteers took part in carnival activities each year, keeping a 485 year old tradition alive.

The first recorded carnival event in Malta, Dr de Marco said, was in 1527, making the Maltese carnival, which was a showcase of creativity and innovation, one of the oldest in Europe.

Malta's carnival will this year also be travelling to Viareggo in Italy with a grotesque mask.

In view of the works at City Gate, carnival this year, between February 17 and 21, will be taking routes that used to be taken in the past, round the Granaries in Floriana up Glormu Cassar and through Merchant's and St John's Street. St George's Square will also be used for the first time since the Grand Masters used to wave from there during the festivities

Along with Valletta and Floriana, carnival activities are also being held in seven other villages and in Gozo.

The whole programme is in the link below.