The Santa Marija parish of Żebbuġ last Sunday celebrated the feast of Our Lady of the Għażżiela with solemn Mass by parish administrator Fr Ġwann Sultana. Also participating were the parish choirs Regina Angelorum and Santa Marija.

Fr Sultana, who will shortly take the office of parish priest after the resignation of former parish priest Reuben Micallef, also blessed the għażżiel which were presented to all those attending the ceremony, followed by the procession with the statue of Our Lady, accompanied by the Santa Marija Band.

The għażżiela is a piece of unleavened bread in the form of the letter ‘M’ for the Virgin Mary. It is produced only in the locality of Żebbuġ and distributed to the faithful as a 300-year-old tradition.

An għażżiela is put behind the main door of residences to keep evil spirits at bay and to protect houses from lightning. Picture shows Fr Sultana blessing the għażżiel in the presence of former parish priest Fr Micallef (right).

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