The Church would not say whether it deemed holding carnival during Lent problematic, instead reminding people that they should find the time to “receive the Sacraments, especially during Sunday Mass”.
The Times of Malta sent questions to the Curia after readers expressed concern that holding carnival during Lent was wrong, insisting this was a holy period and not one of merrymaking. Some readers also argued that the change meant tradition was being “done away with”.
Carnival festivities are being held this weekend after being postponed when the islands were battered by torrential rains and strong winds. The storm was so severe at times that warnings were issued by the police, urging motorists to avoid low-lying areas.
Early on a Saturday, a man was killed when a tree crushed his vehicle while driving in Mrieħel. Shortly after, a large vessel ran aground in Qawra but none of the crew were injured.
When asked for a reaction about the change, since this is the first time that carnival events will be held during Lent - which commenced on Wednesday - a Church spokesman did not reply, stating instead that it “invited Christians to find the time, particularly during Lent, to receive the Sacraments, especially during Sunday Mass”.
The Curia was also asked whether it believed that holding carnival during Lent could impact the way that people followed this period of abstinence and reflection. No reply was forthcoming.
While there was a time when carnival was held in May, in recent years the festivities have always been held before Ash Wednesday, reflecting the traditional sense of the term “carnival”. Etymologists say that the term stems from the Latin phrase carnem levare, meaning “to remove meat”.
Carnival has long been regarded as the period ahead of Lent when children and adults indulge in joyous festivities before weeks of abstinence.
In a statement on Lent, the Curia also said that on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, all those over 18 and under 60 had the duty to fast, unless a serious condition prevented them from doing so.
Those over 14 had the duty to abstain from eating meat or other food they enjoyed.