Float-makers were finally able show off their creations yesterday in the Gran Défilé, after having to postpone celebrations for a week due to the previous weekend’s rain.

The children’s festival kicked off the postponed carnival festivities on Saturday in St George’s Square, Valletta.

Yesterday, children and carnival enthusiasts rushed to St Anne’s Street in Floriana to watch the Gran Défilé.

Despite carnival being designed as a final ‘blow out’ before fasting during Lent, this was the first time that celebrations had taken place after Ash Wednesday.

People took to social media to claim that carnival should not be held during Lent, with many insisting that it was not the appropriate time for the merrymaking associated with the festivities, and fewer people than expected turned up.

But the Church remained evasive as to whether it condemned the move or not, instead reminding people to receive the sacraments, especially at Sunday Mass.