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11 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 3 JULY 2026 CULTURE in Gozo's Village Squares Baptist in Xewkija. Xewkija is the oldest village on the island of Gozo and is famous for a grand feast that extends beyond the main weekend. Notorious for exuberant street celebrations, the supporters of this feast have risen to legendary status for the way they orchestrate them, roping in unique creations such as the gigantic umbrella under which the revellers dance. June then drew to a close with the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, better known locally as Mnarja, celebrated in Nadur on the 29th of June to coincide with the na- tional feast day. This was anoth- er major celebration, not only because it takes place in one of Gozo's larger towns, but also because Mnarja preserves the atmosphere of a traditional har- vest and folk festival deeply root- ed in Maltese cultural identity. Joining in with the locals meant taking part in one of the oldest feasts, as Mnarja holds a distinct identity from other typical sum- mer feasts. One distinctive event is an agrarian exhibition of agri- culture and craftsmanship, fea- turing a vibrant programme of artisan displays, traditional food, and live demonstrations. Now that July is here, it is time for the next set of feasts. The first July feast takes place in the village of Għarb. This popular village festa, celebrated by the Basilica and Collegiate Parish Church, celebrates the Visita- tion of Our Lady and has be- come highly renowned for the inforiata tradition, where a rich carpet of flower petals covers the street. Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Tas-Sokkors) in Kerċem is the next Gozitan feast. This is another quaint village feast. The village feasts are typically centred around the parish church, but in Kerċem, one particularly await- ed part of the feast is the fire- works show, which takes place at the periphery of the village, staged in the freshly harvested fields. July is also synonymous with the celebration of the mar- tyred saints Saint George and Saint Margaret. The first is one of the island's major feasts, held in Victoria and drawing visitors even from mainland Malta. Saint Margaret's feast is about another village swathed in red in honour of the saint's martyrdom, and is historically renowned as a feast synonymous with spectacular pyrotechnic displays. At the turn of August, the vil- lage of Qala celebrates its patron Saint Joseph. The next feast to be celebrated is that of St Law- rence in the village that bears the same name. The feast, which this year falls on 9th August, will also fall close to the annual Perseid meteor shower, which peaks around 11 to 13 August each year. Traditionally, people associated the falling meteors with the tears of the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence because the meteor shower appears around his feast day. The rest of August is a tour of Marian feasts. Starting in Victo- ria, the feast of the Assumption of Mary is one of the island's bigger feasts. Practically, all the islanders turn up in Vic- toria, thronging the streets of Victoria, right up to Cathedral Square. One of the most awaited moments is the fireworks dis- play, visible from the Cathedral ramparts and the surrounding slopes. The next weekend, the village of Żebbug celebrates Our Lady again, with another beauti- ful village feast centred around the church, renowned for its ornate alabaster décor. The last feast in August is the one in honour of Our Lady of Loreto in Għajnsielem. This feast is a spectacle in its own right, with fans taking the celebration to an- other level. Over and above the typical celebrations, revellers are known to impress by everybody donning an outfit made from the same patterned textile. From little toddlers held in hands to adolescents, men and women alike are wearing the same garb. Beyond this, the village is also known for a tradition that hon- ours the story of Our Lady of Lo- reto. The villagers have devised a system for making a statue, which is transported across the square, suspended on cables, to represent the story of our Lady's house being flown to Loreto, Ita- ly, by angels. September is a mix of the quaint and the aplomb. The feast in the bay of Xlendi, hon- ouring Our Lady of Mount Carmel, is typically small-scale, centred around church servic- es, but with a procession along the seafront, where the statue pauses, as fireworks are let off from barges outside the bay, lighting up the sea and sky. The main and much-awaited feast of September is the Nativity of Our Lady, lovingly referred to as Il-Bambina, on 8th September in Xagħra. It attracts large crowds, signalling that the summer festa season is coming to an end. This feast is thickly entwined with Maltese traditions, as the 8th of September is also a national day of celebration in Malta, a reminder of when the Maltese islands, under the leadership of the Grand Master Jean de La Vallette, defeated the Ottoman Empire. The last official feast is the smaller feast celebrated in Victoria at the Capuchins' church dedicated to our Lady of Graces. Once again, the smaller feast encapsulates the commu- nity's spirit of celebrating and honouring the saints who have been held in special regard over the centuries. As the Gozitan community re- peats this cycle of feasts every year, there is no doubt that as it celebrates its beloved patron saints in the most passionate of Mediterranean ways, it is also celebrating itself! Liturgical services are enhanced by sacred music, specially composed and performed by orchestra and choirs. Renowned local soloists contribute to the majestic church atmosphere (Photo: Samuel Masini) Festa Fireworks (photo by Kovexdi) Church Lights (Photo: Chris Migeon)