2011 September - Zabbar Feast

The Feast of Our Lady of Graces in Zabbar

Another city, another feast, another wild celebration in Malta. It’s unbelievable for people from Easter Europe that parish holiday is a party. One must see it to believe. 

This time, the feast took place in Zabbar, a small town on south of Malta. In fact it’s the fourth largest city on this island with an archictectural gem, a sanctuary and even more impressive parish feast. There is also a museum with votive marine painting and other treasures. From ages, it was a places visited often by pilgrims. Nowadays, there are pilgrimages of cyclists from nearby Rabat ot Mosta as Our Lady of graces is the patron of cyclists.

Have a look how the first Sunday after 8^th September is celebrated in Zabbar.

The sanctuary was lid by thousands of coulourful bulbs.

More than 20  stalls with Maltese nugats, food and toys.

Streets decorated with flags...

Two bands,two parties which competes and two colours, green and blue. It’s better to avoid them, especially on Sunday morning. 

Next year I need to visit teh feast on Sunday to see the youth marches and enormous umbrellas. Look at the atmoshere on the streets of Zabbar.

Green ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTSLYbk1ddY&feature=related

Blue...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRgxg1l8e3c&feature=related

2011 August - Malta

Mosta

Mosta town is famous because of the church.  It is situated near the main street and everybody knows where it is. 

The church has a big dome. Maybe that’s why it is called ‘Mosta Dome’ by the Maltese. In the summer time when there are many tourists there is a man sitting near the door. If you haven’t got your shoulders covered he will give you a scarf to cover them.

Near the main entrance, on the left hand side, there is a sculpture of Giorgio Grognet de Vassee. You can see his sad face. The legend says that hi is sad because they didn’t paid him for building this church.
On 8^th April 1942, a 200kg bomb pierced the church. Inside were 300 people. The bomb didn’t explode and now in the sacristy you can find a replica of the bomb. 

The sacristy is at the end of the church on the left hand side. And if you have a good eye you can find the place where the bomb destroyed the dome.
Unfortunately, in Mosta there is only this church. From Mosta Dome you can start your trip to the Dwejra – Victoria Lines or to the chapel of St. Paul the Hermit.

Chapel of St. Paul the Hermit

Last Sunday I decided to find a small chapel in the natural cave. I walked from Mosta church in the direction to St. Paul’s Bay.

On the last roundabout, after the ‘Targa’ bus stop I turned left. This is big road but in a bad condition and it goes to Naxxar. The last house is called ‘Aresca’ and the first building on the left hand side, which I passed, was the Art and Design Institute in the old Mosta Fort. 

The way took me about 15 min and I was on another roundabout before a big bridge. From the bridge I saw the small chapel. After the bridge I turned right and walked about 400m. 

On the right hand side there was a wall and before it started a small path going down. It was footpath with stairs and a concrete trail. It took me into a gorge. I was under a beautiful bridge and going to my target.

On the left hand side there was the Military Storage but it was above my way. The chapel is inside a big grotto. 

It was built in 1656. The main altar piece shows St. Paul the first hermit of Egypt and St. Anthony the Abbot. You can read the legend about this place from a piece of  paper on the window. 

Outside in the rocks there is a statue of St. Maria. The way back was the same. I just choose a different road to Mosta following the sight of a big dome of the Mosta church. 

This walk took me about 2 hours.

2011 August - Mosta Feast

The Feast in Mosta

On the 15th August there is Sant of St. Mary celebrated in Mosta, Rabat, Luga and I don’t remember where else. The day before there is a main ceremony with the fireworks. This time I visited Mosta.

I was there at about 1 pm to visit everything before the big crowd. The main street was decorated with blue and yellow colours. On poles were suspended flags and canvas pictures. On the special columns were figures of saints. 

On the roof there were many big flags. Near the Mosta church, where usually is a parking place, they put ground fireworks. About ten big poles with big and complicated construction of fireworks. 

There were different constructions, one was a ball, another had many small fireworks and there was one which has very big. 

Church was decorated which many bulbs but during the day it wasn’t spectacular. In front of the church they built a scene for the musicians and everywhere were small stalls with Maltese nugats and other sweets. 

Where usually was a parking place on the main street, it was a space reserved for catering. I decided to visit this place before the 11pm.
I used new public transport to get to Mosta once more. All centre of the town was closed even for the buses. There was a detour and the bus stop was about 400m from the church. When I traveled by bus from the window I observed sky fireworks which were really amazing.

While walking to the church I saw many people seating near the pubs or clubs, eating, drinking and talking. All Maltese were well dressed and tourists looked like tourists. These 400m meters took me long time. 

There were many nice decorations and it was so crowded. During the evening time the church looked incredible. It was lit by hundred lights. 

Close to me was a musical band. I was there at 10.30 p.m. The ground fireworks started before midnight. For sure it was worth waiting and it was a good idea to be there after 10 pm. At the beginning someone introduced the show. Unfortunately, only in Maltese. 

And then one by one, they started the show. It was so exciting and so polluted. They shimmered in green, blue and red colour creating shapes. The whole show took about 40 min and I decided to walk home.