Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544188
6 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 2 APRIL 2026 NEWS Ornis Committee votes in favour of opening spring hunting season THE Ornis Committee has vot- ed in favour of recommending the opening of the spring hunt- ing season for quail between 13 April and 3 May 2026. The committee also proposed the hunting season for turtle dove should run from 20 April to 3 May 2026, with both dates included. In terms of national catch limits, the committee recom- mended that these remain un- changed from 2025 levels, set at 1,500 turtle doves and 2,400 quail. Additionally, the commit- tee put forward a proposal for the application of a further derogation. This would allow the trapping of turtle dove be- tween 20 April and 3 May 2026 under strictly regulated condi- tions. The trapping would be car- ried out using traditional nets as part of a scientific research project led by citizen scientists. CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Good Friday commemorates the day Christians believe Je- sus Christ was crucified. It is observed as a public holiday in Malta and Gozo, with many businesses and schools closed. Churches typically hold an af- ternoon liturgy of the Word, the veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion before pro- cessions begin. Processions feature groups carrying statues representing specific episodes from the Pas- sion of Christ. Each statue is borne by a group of bearers, with the number depending on size and weight. These statues are taken from parish church- es and carried through village streets. Participants often include villagers dressed as Roman soldiers, biblical figures, and other historical characters. Lo- cal brass bands accompany the events with slow, mourning music. Good Friday processions have a long history in the Maltese Islands. They are believed to have begun in the early 16th century under the influence of Sicilian and Spanish traditions and have continued as one of the island's major religious and cultural events. The processions usually start between late afternoon and early evening, with times var- ying slightly between villages. In several localities, the full set of statues may take significant time to exit the church be- fore moving along the planned routes through local streets. Church bells in many com- munities fall silent from Maun- dy Thursday until Saturday evening as a sign of mourning, and traditional rattles are used in place of bells during this pe- riod. Good Friday processions draw large numbers of locals and visitors, with some spectators arranging seating along key parts of the routes. The events form a structured part of Ho- ly Week, which culminates in Easter Sunday celebrations of the resurrection of Christ. Villages in Gozo with scheduled processions this year include Nadur, Xaghra, Zebbug and Rabat Participants often include villagers dressed as Roman soldiers, biblical figures, and other historical characters (Photo: islandofgozo)