Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546095
11 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 7 AUGUST 2026 CULTURE Feast of Santa Marija: Full day of religious and cultural celebrations in Victoria TWO of Malta's most distinc- tive landmarks are taking centre stage in a new set of commem- orative stamps issued by Malta- Post, on Friday 7 August 2026, as part of the 2026 joint stamp issue of the Small European Postal Administrations Cooper- ation (SEPAC). Issued under this year's theme, "Iconic Landmarks", the two- stamp set shines a spotlight on the Xwejni Salt Pans in Gozo and the Tritons' Fountain at the entrance to Valletta, bringing together two landmarks that embody the Maltese Islands' rich heritage, traditions and dis- tinctive sense of place. SEPAC brings together thir- teen European postal opera- tors, with participating mem- bers issuing stamps each year around a shared theme. The 2026 theme celebrates places of outstanding cultural, historical and architectural significance across Europe. The €0.50 stamp features the Xwejni Salt Pans, which stretch for approximately three kilo- metres along Gozo's rugged northern coastline between Qbajjar Bay and Reqqa Point. Carved by hand into the coast- al limestone over centuries, the salt pans form a striking ge- ometric landscape and preserve the island's age-old tradition of harvesting sea salt using the natural elements of sun and wind. The photograph featured on the stamp was taken by Ma- riah Grech. The €2.21 stamp, which serves as MaltaPost's official entry for the 2026 SEPAC joint issue competition, depicts the Tri- tons' Fountain, one of Malta's most recognisable landmarks and an enduring symbol of the gateway to Valletta. Inaugurat- ed in 1959, the iconic fountain features three bronze Tritons supporting a wide basin and has become one of Malta's best- known public monuments. The photograph featured on the stamp was taken by Daniel Cilia. The stamps are issued in sheets of 10, with each stamp measuring 44 mm x 31 mm. They feature a comb perfora- tion of 14.1 x 14.2 and bear the Maltese Cross watermark. The sheets measure 115 mm x 182 mm and were produced by Prin- tex Ltd using the offset printing process. The issue compris- es 60,000 stamps of €0.50 and 300,000 stamps of €2.21. The new set will be available from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo. Orders may also be placed online at www.maltaphi- lately.com, by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c., 305 Qormi Road, Mar- sa MTP 1001, by telephone on 2596 1740, or by email at info@ maltaphilately.com. MaltaPost celebrates iconic landmarks with SEPAC stamp issue ON 15 August, the Feast of the Assumption reaches its climax with a full day of religious and cultural celebrations in Victo- ria. The Cathedral opens the day with Masses at 5:00am, 6:00am, 7:00am, 8:00am, 9:00am (Pon- tifical Mass), 11:00am, 12:00pm, 5:00pm and 8:30pm, while con- fessions are available through- out the morning. At 9:00am, the solemn Pontif- ical Concelebration is presided over by the Bishop of Gozo, bringing together the Cathe- dral Chapter, clergy, religious communities and seminarians. At 11:00am, a Mass for fami- lies and children is celebrated, while a traditional band march through the streets of Victoria begins at the same time. The afternoon festivities commence at 11:30am with the distribution of prizes in Villa Rundle, followed by a popular march and synchronized fire- works display in Independence Square at 2:15pm. Sacred mu- sic fills the Cathedral at 5:45pm with a Solemn Te Deum, and at 6:00pm the Victory Band marches from its club prem- ises to Cathedral Square. The highlight of the religious cele- brations begins at 6:45pm with the Solemn Procession of the artistic statue of Santa Marija through the streets of Victoria, accompanied by hymns and the Cittadina Leone Band. Evening festivities contin- ue with musical programmes by the San Ġużepp Band at 8:00pm and the Victory Band at 8:00pm in different loca- tions. Following a special chap- el service at 8:30pm, spectacu- lar fireworks light up the Gozo skyline at 10:00pm. The cele- brations culminate at 10:30pm when the statue of Our Lady is triumphantly welcomed back into the Cathedral amidst the ringing of bells, torchlight processions, and the partic- ipation of Cardinal Mario Grech, bringing to a close one of Gozo's most cherished reli- gious feasts. The highlight of the religious celebrations begins at 6:45pm with the Solemn Procession of the artistic statue of Santa Marija through the streets of Victoria