Maltese Traditional Feasts 2006 - and Calendar

[Luqa - Malta]

Hello all,

For those who are not familiar with a Typical Maltese Village Festa, you can follow this link to read a short article that will inform you of what it is all about. http://www.unionbandmalta.org/Aritklu_Traditional_Feast.htm

- ALL photos in this thread belong to www.unionbandmalta.org -

CALENDAR OF RELIGIOUS FEASTS IN MALTA AND GOZO - 2006

Jan 29 Convertion of St Paul Mdina

Feb 10 St Paul Valletta
Mar 17 Jesus of Nazareth Sliema
Mar 19 St Joseph Rabat

Apr 07 Our Lady Of Sorrows Various Parishes
Apr 09 Palm Sunday Various Parishes
Apr 14 Good Friday Various Parishes
Apr 16 Easter (Rxoxt) Various Parishes
Apr 30 St Publius Floriana
Apr 30 Our Lady Of Liesse Valletta

May 03 Holy Cross B’Kara
May 07 St Joseph Ħamrun
May 07 St Augustine Valletta
May 22 St Rita Valletta
May 28 St Paul Munxar (Gozo)
May 28 Our Lady Of Fatima G’Manga
May 28 The Annunciation Tarxien

Jun 04 St. Anthony Of Padova B’Kara
Jun 04 St. Joseph Għaxaq
Jun 04 Corpus Christi Għasri (Gozo)
Jun 11 Holy Trinity Marsa
Jun 11 St Philip Żebbuġ
Jun 18 Corpus Christi Rabat
Jun 18 Our Lady Of The Lily Mqabba
Jun 18 St Catherine Żejtun
Jun 18 Sacred Heart of Jesus Fontana (Gozo)
Jun 25 Christ The Redeemer Senglea
Jun 25 St Nicholas Siġġiewi
Jun 25 St George Qormi
Jun 25 Our Lady Of Sac.Heart Burmarrad
Jun 25 St John Baptist Xewkija (Gozo)
Jun 29 St Peter & St Paul Mdina
Jun 29 St Peter & St Paul Nadur (Gozo)

Jul 02 St Andrew Luqa
Jul 02 Our Lady Of Sac. Heart Sliema
Jul 02 St Paul Rabat
Jul 02 Immaculate Conception Ħamrun
Jul 02 Our Lady Of Lourdes Qrendi
Jul 02 St Joseph The Worker B’Kara
Jul 02 Annunciation Balzan
Jul 02 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Fleur De Lys
Jul 02 The Visitation Għarb (Gozo)
Jul 02 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Fleur De Lys
Jul 09 St Joseph Kirkop
Jul 09 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Fgura
Jul 09 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Gżira
Jul 09 Our Lady of Perpet. Help Kerċem (Gozo)
Jul 16 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Valletta
Jul 16 St Sebastian Qormi
Jul 16 Our Lady Of Holy Doctrine Tarxien
Jul 16 St George Victoria (Gozo)
Jul 16 St Joseph Kalkara
Jul 23 St Joseph Msida
Jul 23 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Mdina
Jul 23 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Żurrieq
Jul 23 Christ The King Paola
Jul 23 St Margaret Sannat (Gozo)
Jul 30 St Joseph Żebbuġ
Jul 30 St. Venera St Venera
Jul 30 Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Balluta
Jul 30 Our Lady Of Pompei M’Xlokk
Jul 30 St Anna Marsascala
Jul 30 Our Lady Of Sorrows St Paul’s Bay
Jul 30 St Dominic Valletta
Jul 30 St Lawrence San Law. (Gozo)

Aug 06 Trans. Of Our Lord Lija
Aug 06 St Peter Birżebbuġa
Aug 06 Our Lady Of Lourdes San Ġwann
Aug 06 St Joseph Qala (Gozo)
Aug 10 St Lawrence Vittoriosa 21827057
Aug 13 St Gaetan Ħamrun 21238593
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Għaxaq
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Gudja
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Mosta
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Mqabba
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Qrendi
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Attard
Aug 15 The Assm. Of Our Lady Victoria (Gozo)
Aug 20 The Assm. Of Our Lady Dingli
Aug 20 The Assm. Of Our Lady Mġarr
Aug 20 Our Lady Of Lourdes Paola
Aug 20 Stella Maris Sliema
Aug 20 St. Helen B’Kara 21444725
Aug 20 The Assm. Of Our Lady Żebbuġ (Gozo)
Aug 27 St. Pius X Santa Luċija
Aug 27 St. Paul Safi
Aug 27 St. Julian St.Julian’s
Aug 27 St. Dominic Vittoriosa
Aug 27 St. Joseph Manikata
Aug 27 St. Bartholomew Għargħur
Aug 27 Maria Regina Marsa
Aug 27 Our Lady of Loreto Għajnsielem (Gozo)

Sep 03 St. Gregory Sliema
Sep 03 St. Catherine Żurrieq
Sep 03 Our Lady Of The Girdle Rabat
Sep 08 The Nativity Of Our Lady Mellieħa
Sep 08 The Nativity Of Our Lady Senglea
Sep 08 The Nativity Of Our Lady Naxxar
Sep 08 The Nativity Of Our Lady Xagħra (Gozo)
Sep 10 Our Lady of Graces Żabbar
Sep 17 St. Leonard Kirkop

Oct 01 Our Lady of The Rosary Gudja
Oct 01 St Francis of Assisi Sliema
Oct 15 Our Lady of Good Health Rabat
Oct 29 Our Lady of The Girdle Gudja

Nov 11 Saint Martin Bahrija - Rabat
Nov 19 Feast of the Holy Cross Ta’ Xbiex

Dec 08 Immaculate Conception Ibraġ
Dec 08 Immaculate Conception Cospicua
Dec 10 Immaculate Conception Rabat

PLEASE NOTE: THAT SINCE I COPIED THIS CALENDAR FROM A FIREWORKS ARTICLE, THE FEASTS MARKED IN BOLD ARE THE AUTHOR'S FAVORITE FEASTS FOR FIREWORKS DISPLAYS.

Personally I am of the tought that many of the other feasts also have alot to offer.

- ALL photos in this thread belong to www.unionbandmalta.org -

Thanks for the attention :w

 

[jonmif]

Hi Luqa, 10x for yuor informative post. You also gave a good preview of what foreigners can see in Malta during our feasts celebrations.

We invite all the foreign visitors to visit our country during the coming weeks to come to the local traditional feasts and of course to watch the MALTESE TYPICAL FIREWORKS !!!
The places listed above in bold are the best places to attend to watch fireworks.
Cu here !!

 

[Luqa - Malta]

Thanks Jonmif for the reply. Let the festa season begin! :9

 

[Devestator_001]

Me and a friend will be on Malta the 1st till the 11th of August. I understand that in that time there is AT LEAST one show a day. Can someone confirm that?

:w

 

[Luqa - Malta]

Hello Devestator,
The best shows during your stay would be on the 5th and 6th of August in Hal-Lija.

If you stay a little longer you could also enjoy the feast of Saint Mary. 14th and 15th.

Hope you enjoy your stay

 

[jonmif]

Hi Devestator,
If you can come over here from 5 to the 15 you can see both Lija and Mqabba's feast fireworks.(the best shows in Malta) It's a pity that you will come to Malta for fireworks and you just see only one big show!
Lija best show will be on the 5th in the evening and Mqabba best show will be on the 14 th in the evening.
During those days will there be also daylight multibreak shells in variuos times of the day.

Think deeply about it !!

 

[Luqa - Malta]

I agree with Jonmif and you should extend a little your holiday. You'll enjoy it.

But I dont agree about the best 2. Yes they are 2 of the best but would not bet on just 2. There are about 10 considered as the big 10 and each factory has its own unike techniques. I woulden't bet about who is the best 2 only because they are the only big ones taking part in the Festival. Unfortunately for some of the Best factories it is impossible for them to take part on a large scale in the festival because it is too close to their respective Annual feast which is by far more important then the festival. Having said this one should think about 2 from Qormi, 1 of Mqabba, 1 of Qrendi, Luqa and Zebbug but most imporantly we have to consider that Mqabba and especially Lija focus their feasts 90% for Fireworks. Qrendi is another one. Now imagine if Zurrieq or Luqa had to do that (these 2 are considered as some of the most complete packages of a Maltese feast). Ghaxaq Saint Joseph is another village which is progressing quite rapidly in my opinion and probably they have good package for a feast. Unfortunately there are probably about only 8 feasts that have a well rounded Festa. Me being a big fan of Feasts that include fireworks and not just Fireworks alone, thats what I think.

I wouldent like to start a flame war, its not my intention, but I woulden't dare make such a statement. And hope that we do not become so blind as to say that the Malta fireworks festival is the bench mark of Maltese fireworks because only 9 factories took part out some 40 maltese factories and only 2 took part out of the big 10. And looking how much the number of factories taking part in the festival have decreesed over the years. I almost lost faith in this event.


Thats my 2c worth opinion. :w

 

[jonmif]

Hi luqa,, i just wanted to say the best 2 of those days that is from 4th till 15 I did'nt explain myself well. Devastator also note that from our roof of the Band Club you can watch also Qrendi, Gudja, Mosta Fireworks !! all at the same time. Your choice is in your hand !
Good luck Luqa ! from the tests I have watched it seems that there will be high quality fireworks right there. I'll surely have to come over there to get some nice pics
cu

 

[Luqa - Malta]

Thats the beauty of Saint Mary's feast. 4 large shows at the same time. Especially Mqabba and Qrendi.

If everything goes well we should have some quality fireworks with a good variety again this year. I've seen some tests myself since I live directly in front of the display valley and i'm getting excited! :9 Some of the highlights would be the grandfinal on Sunday and the Exit of procession on Sunday (altough it is not our turn according to a young agreement to shoot the 'kaxxa' of the exit, but there should be a good show of shells with the black star togethor with the big shells). Obviously Festa Eave. And some surprizes.... I'll let you know later on as this is not the appropriate thread since I'd like to keep it generally Maltese.

Qrendi Lourdes which celebrate their feast on the same date as us since some 3 years now, always put up big shows, but unfortunately one of their best members died tragicaly and i'm not sure what they have prepared for this year.

But usually people gater in places that the 3 shows are vissable from. (2 in Luqa and 1 qrendi). Like band club roof tops (some band clubs like the 2 in Luqa are specificaly built so that visitors and members can watch fireworks of allover Malta.)

You can say that the best feasts start this week and at least every week from now on there is a good one. I cant belive its starting! Me and my girl friend are fed up of the usual paceville or movie weekends.

Thanks for your contribution as always Jonmif :w

Viva Santa Marija u Sant Andrija

 

[Devestator_001]

hello, an extension of the holliday is not possible. But can someone please confirm if there are shows every day from the 1st till the 11th of august??? Tnq

:w

 

[Titan]

hello, an extension of the holliday is not possible. But can someone please confirm if there are shows every day from the 1st till the 11th of august??? Tnq

:w

If there where, they would tell you.
What I understand is that there are 2 best days in the period you are staying on malta, so not every day a show.

 

[jonmif]

Devastator if your days are fixed, then the best you can do is to watch fireworks of Lija then. I'll tell you the exact days when they will have fireworks. But the best to go there will surely be on the 4-6. Then on the 9th you can come to Mqabba to have a taste of what you will miss!!! on the 10th you can go to Birgu then for some fireworks.

 

[Luqa - Malta]

Probably Lija will have Fireworks from the 2nd till the 6th. But their best would be 4th, 5th and 6th. especially 4th and 5th. Then you could go to Mqabba on the 9th but their best would be 14th and 15th. Then Birgu on the 10th, usually they have smaller displays but you could enjoy a Maltese summer night by the grand harbour. wish you an excellent stay :w

 

[Jes]

hi luqa , I've watched that videos that you have in you website. THEY ARE GREAT !!!!!! em yes i agree with you that DEVESTATOR should come to Malta from the 4th to the 15th of August .Can you please tell me how can I create my own e-mail for our feast? you can send me on my e-mail: jesmond_b@hotmail.com

 

[Luqa - Malta]

Thanks Jes, sent you an e-mail. Were in Malta are you? and what festa/band club do you belong to?
:w

 

[Jes]

I'm from the village of Lija and we have the feast of the trasfiguration of Jesus.

 

[jonmif]

Hi Jes please could you tell the days that in Lija usually have fireworks during the fesat days so that Devastator may know.

10x

 

[Jes]

Hi jonmif,
This the first that I am talking to someone that makes part from the team of St Mary fireworks factory
Our dates are :27th July- 7:30pm (day light fireworks)
- 9:00pm(night fireworks)

2nd August- 9:00pm(night fireworks)
3rd August - 9:00pm(night fireworks)
*4th August -(one of the main 3 displays)- 9:15 pm (night fireworks)
*5th August-(the main display)- 8:15 am (daylight fireworks)
- 6:30 pm (daylight fireworks)
-9:45 pm till late...(night fireworks)
- 12:15 am (ground fireworks)

Note: For the 9:45pm show, try to be there some time before to reseve a place for you because by 9:00pm there will be hundreds of people!!

*6th August -(last great display)- 8:00am(daylight fireworks)
-11:00am (daylight fireworks)
-7:00pm (great daylight fireworks)
- 9:00pm (night firewoks)

Enjoy!!

 

[jonmif]

10x for the info Jes. I wanted to know this so that Devastator ( a forum member in here and not maltese )will know the times when to attend there and the time.
Cu around

 

[Luqa - Malta]

It's nice to see that more people from Malta are taking part in this forum. Hope for even more. I belive someone from Kirkop and another from Mosta have registered to this forum as well but havent seen much of them yet. This is my third year now on this forum and i'm seeing it take life again like it was in 2004.