Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1108702
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 24 APRIL 2019 CULTURE THE feast of San Girgor is a well- known traditional event that has been held since the 1500s. This feast is celebrated on the first Wednesday after Easter and at first consisted of a procession by confra- ternities from all Maltese parishes starting from Mdina and ending with a religious ceremony at the Żejtun parish church. Today, the pilgrimage is considera- bly shorter as it starts from the chapel of St Clement in Żejtun. From there, participants – who will be accompa- nied by the archbishop, the archpriest and the clergy - go to the Żejtun par- ish church where the Miserere will be sung. They will then continue to Żejtun's old parish church, popularly known as San Girgor. The clergy will be joined by horse- drawn carts and the participants will be dressed in traditional Maltese cos- tumes. Mass will be held at the San Girgor church, with the participation of all present. After the religious celebration, Fes- tivals Malta will take over the Żejtun festivities, with folk music from re- nowned għannejja whilst traditional children's games will be held in the square in front of the church. There will also be several Maltese ar- tisan and food stalls scattered around the venue to further enhance the feast's traditional roots. Before the musicians make their way to Marsaxlokk on two animal-drawn carts, this year's Għanafest pro- gramme will be launched at the San Girgor Church square in the presence of the Culture Minister Owen Bon- nici. After the religious function and ac- tivities in Żejtun, the crowd will then make its way to Marsaxlokk - follow- ing the old route to the fishing village - to relax and enjoy the rest of the day with traditional music and għana, food, and – for brave ones – their first swim. At Marsaxlokk, two stages will be set up on the waterfront and through- out the afternoon a folk programme, including two of the main types of traditional "għana"– "daqq tal-prejj- em" and "botta u risposta" – will be held. There will also be a number of stalls with traditional crafts such as the loom, filigree, pottery, cane work, glass and lace. It will surely be a jam-packed after- noon, which can be enjoyed by Mal- tese families and foreigners alike. An event which will continue to embrace our folk traditions, while at the same time keeping them alive and relevant to today's society. Today's programme 9.30am Procession from Saint Clem- ent to Żejtun Parish Church. Arch- bishop of Malta Charles Scicluna and members from various confraterni- ties enter church for Miserere. 10am Procession from Żejtun Parish Church to San Girgor church. Clergy will be joined by horse-drawn carts and people dressed in traditional Mal- tese costumes 10.30am Mass at San Girgor church 11am Għana, Traditional Games, Crafts and Gastronomy 11.15am Press conference addressed by Minister Owen Bonnici; Festivals Malta Director Annabelle Stivala; Għanafest Artistic Director Tiziana Calleja 12pm Marsaxlokk Festivities com- mence Today's San Girgor festivities