Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546198
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 AUGUST 2026 FEATURE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE BE EXCLUSIVE & DESIGN TRADEMARK REGISTER YOUR BEFORE YOU MAKE IT PUBLIC IL-GVERN TA' MALTA ·½ĊėþĤࢫn{§§࣒H̷̽ࢷࢫ§࣒½ėþöþŧ ĤࢫöþÌtHėėࢫĊėþėHt4 and objects that define Malta's summer air, while sweet treats like the famous Qubbajt taż-Żebbuġi and sugar-powdered doughnuts tempt both locals and visitors alike. High above, spectacular fireworks light up the night sky, creating breath-taking displays that have become one of, if not the, defining symbols of Maltese summer. But the annual festa for many is not just about the food, it's about reuniting with family members, with child- hood friends and the rekindling of community spirit. Despite an increasingly secu- larised society, festas continue to evolve and grow year after year. The month of August also holds a special place in every Maltese calendar, with Santa Marija week widely regarded as the peak of summer—the week everyone looks forward to. It's a time for workplace shutdowns when festas are in full swing, beaches are at their busiest, and many families and groups of friends get together. The lull is also the perfect excuse to sit around… and do nothing. It also marks the exodus of Maltese families and friends to Gozo, where a rented seaside apartment becomes an escape route from everyday routine. And then there is the boat trip with friends; discovering hidden coves, diving into turquoise wa- ters, enjoying daylong lunches on the sea, and watching spec- tacular sunsets that make you wish summer would never end. Of course, not everything about summer is glamorous. The stifling humid southerly winds and the mosquitos that disturb your sleep in the middle of the night were im- m o r t a l - ised in W a l t e r M i - callef's s o n g A w - w i s s u . And then there is the horri- b l e - l o o k i n g brown cockroach sitting on the pavement right in front of your apartment door as you try and stamp it out while your partner is screaming. Ultimately, Malta Sajf is about far more than sunshine and beaches. It is a unique blend of traditions, iconic foods and drinks, village festas, family holidays, sea adventures and simple pleasures that have re- mained remarkably unchanged over the years. It is the taste of an ice cream melting too quickly in the heat, the ex- citement of f i r e w o r k s e c h o i n g a c r o s s the is- lands, the c o m f o r t of sitting b e n e a t h c o l o u r f u l umbrellas, the peaceful afternoon siesta, and the joy of making memories with the peo- ple who matter most. Malta Sajf is a season for liv- ing. In the evenings villages across Malta and Gozo come alive with the unmistakable atmosphere of the festa season Colourful umbrella's at the beach Maltese festa