Thu, 13/03/2008 - 09:42
Holy Week and Easter are celebrated religiously by most of the Maltese to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. These celebrations are symbolic and portray the islands’ faith, culture and folklore. Holy Week starts with the feast of Our Lady Of Sorrows (14/03/2008) where towns and villages all over the island follow the statue of Our Lady in a procession reciting the rosary. On Maundy Thursday (20/03/2008) ’The 7 Visits’ take place. On this day people visit 7 different churches around the island to pay homage to the Altars of Repose. Numerous processions, with statues representing the stations of the cross as well as locals performing pageantry are held on Good Friday (21/03/2008) re-enacting the passion of Christ. Bells and Fireworks dominate on Easter Sunday Morning announcing the Resurrection of Christ. A huge procession with the statue of Christ together with marching bands and confetti takes place in the village streets where at the end of the procession, the statue-bearers run with the statue as a sign of triumph back into the church. Traditionally family and friends gather for Easter lunch where kids exchange Easter eggs and the traditional figolla—an almond-filled pastry covered with icing or chocolate
