These tributes to the Saints know their origin in times when life in Gozo was full of hardships and the population looked onto the saints to solicit their help for protection, prosperity and peace. The deep religious devotion has evolved over time and today the feasts are a spectacle of colour and music that brings exuberance to the summer weekends!
Here’s a quick guide to the feasts.
Each village has its own patron Saint and the town of Rabat has two feasts, one in honour of St. George and another celebrates the Assumption of Our Lady. Each feast can be said to have its own dominant colour. The villages honouring saints that have died as martyrs of the church often pick the red colour and those emblazoning Marian saints usually choose the blue colour. These colours will be predominantly everywhere during the feast. During the day it’s easy to identify the village celebrating the feast from the flags being flown on rooftops. In the evening the flag masts are adorned with an intense red or blue lights and it truly feels like the village is beckoning all visitors to join in its celebrations!
The numerous band societies that are found in Gozo, contribute a lot to the merry atmosphere of the village feasts. The music of the marches as the band proceeds through the street is intrinsically part of the excitement and cheering of the youths and youngsters who sing and dance as a crowd wearing the predominant colour of the village. The scene is further enriched by flurries of confetti and pre-strung balloon nets with hundreds of balloons that are dropped on the crowds.
With so many fireworks enthusiasts on the island, the spectacle involving both ground and sky fireworks is second to none. From the stronger petards to the flowery display of colours that brilliantly light the sky for just a couple of seconds to the ground fireworks like the dazzling pinwheels, the pyrotechnic abilities improve from one generation to the next ensuring that Gozo’s fireworks display will always delight.
In the spirit of true community, the streets are gaily decorated with festoons, banners, flags and garlands. Some of the lighted street decorations literally look like intricate embroidery designs. In Għarb, where the feast this year is being held on the weekend of the 2nd of July , an ‘infiorata’, a carpet of flowers graces the main square of the village. On the weekend the crowds will fill up the streets and bars. Food kiosks and stalls provide refreshments and traditional Gozitan street food like ‘cheesecakes’. One important tradition associated with the feasts is the nougat. Nougat stall or ‘tal-qubbajt’, as they are known, sell both the softer almond flavoured nougat and the hard brown one. If you’re lucky you might even find a small stall that sells the traditional ruġġata, a refreshing summer drink!
In the spirit of true community, the streets are gaily decorated with festoons, banners, flags and garlands. Some of the lighted street decorations literally look like intricate embroidery designs. In Għarb, where the feast this year is being held on the weekend of the 2nd of July , an ‘infiorata’, a carpet of flowers graces the main square of the village. On the weekend the crowds will fill up the streets and bars. Food kiosks and stalls provide refreshments and traditional Gozitan street food like ‘cheesecakes’. One important tradition associated with the feasts is the nougat. Nougat stall or ‘tal-qubbajt’, as they are known, sell both the softer almond flavoured nougat and the hard brown one. If you’re lucky you might even find a small stall that sells the traditional ruġġata, a refreshing summer drink!
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