IL-GOSTRA

During the height of summer, when it is customary to hold feasts (festi) throughout Malta and Gozo, a popular game near the seaside is that of the gostra or greasy pole which today, in the face of other more popular and more modern sports, still forms an essential element in the customs and traditions of Malta's folklore.


The word itself derives from the Italian giostra. The latter has a different meaning to that practised in Malta, as it refers to the mediaeval tournament of the jousts while the one in Malta deals with a sea sport with a greasy pole.

St Publius enters Valletta

Thousands of Roman Catholics flocked to Valletta last night to witness the historic moment when Floriana's statue of St Publius entered the capital city for the first time.

The majestic statue was carried into City Gate and through Republic Street to loud applause and enthusiasm, while Valletta's equally majestic statue of St Paul was carried on a tour of the city.

The two then 'met' outside St John's Co-Cathedral, as young and old gathered in droves to witness the event, organised to mark the end of the Pauline Year.

Supporters of each saint filled the streets and sang their individual anthems while passionately praising their own saint as "the greatest". The coming together of the two statues was symbolic of the arrival of St Paul who was welcomed to Malta by St Publius after his shipwreck in 60 AD.

As the story goes, St Publius was then converted and became the first archbishop of the island as the two saints converted the rest of the island to Christianity.

The unifying activity between the two rival towns was organised by the Archbishop's Curia. A similar event has only happened once before, in 1960, when the two statues were brought together at the Floriana Granaries.

An open-air Pontifical Mass was said by the Pope's special envoy, Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, in the presence of the country's highest authorities, to mark the end of the Pauline Year that celebrated the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of St Paul.

Similar celebrations have been held in the seven countries St Paul visited during his lifetime.

Archbishop Paul Cremona said the Maltese would celebrate the 1950th anniversary of St Paul's arrival next year and would do so with the same enthusiasm as they did the Pauline Year.

FOLKLORE

Like all other countries with a long tradition of interaction among people, Malta has a rich element of folk life. Some Maltese traditions are closely related to Catholic Mediterranean folklore, however, there are several aspects which work either independently from organized religion, and sometimes even counter to the religious beliefs. The folk music and singing tradition of Malta is a good example of Maltese Folklore not associated with Christianity. There have been various attempts to capture folk life in publications and museums, but as any modern folklorist will tell you, folklore is best preserved in living traditions.

IN GUARDIA PARADE 2009

In Guardia Parade in Valletta

IN GUARDIA PARADE 2009
Pageantry and Processions , Family Entertainment, Cultural- 04/01/2009 to 27/12/2009


The IN GUARDIA PARADE is a historical re-enactment that portrays an authentic historical event set in the late 16th – early 17th century. The re-enactment depicts the inspection of the fort and its garrison by the Grand Bailiff of the Order of the Knights of St. John who was in charge of military affairs. During the re-enactment the fort's garrison (some 70 characters in all) is dressed in its best uniforms to demonstrate its military prowess. The show starts at 11:00hrs and lasts some 40 minutes.