د . إAEDSRر . س

WATCH: San Pietru Boat Day! Birżebbuġa’s Annual Unique Feast Is The Most Summery Thing Ever

Article Featured Image

Video Compilation from Owen Bonnici’s Instagram stories

Festas are annual celebrations in honour of each town’s patron saint. They’re deeply entrenched in Maltese history and over the years each locality has added a unique touch to make it their own. But none do it quite like Birżebbuġa does….

The fishing town diverts from the Maltese tradition of parading their patron saint around the streets… and instead takes to the beautiful surrounding sea!

Yes, the statue of St Peter in Chains is placed on a boat that travels from St George’s Bay into Pretty Bay with numerous spectators following his pilgrimage either by boat or from land.

He’s even accompanied by the band club musicians, who keep the party going with their music as St Peter and his followers make their way across the water.

“About 40 boats usually take part in the sea pilgrimage but they may number around 60 on special occasions such as anniversaries,” Alex Caruana, president of the Soċjetà Filarmonika San Pietru Banda Birżebbuġa, said when speaking to The Times of Malta.

Once ashore, traditional Maltese festivities resume, and the statute is paraded around the street until it arrives back at Pretty Bay, where it stays until the celebrations of St Peter in Chains comes to an end on Sunday evening.

The tradition started back in 1974 and is fitting for Birżebbuġa given that it is a fishing village and St Peter was a fisherman. Special touches like this are what make Maltese festas such an amazing part of our history and culture.

And you still have a chance to witness this awesome event! Għaqda Mużikali San Pietru Fil-Ktajjen, the town’s other band club, is holding its own sea pilgrimage later today!

Tag someone who needs to check out this unique local tradition

READ NEXT: A Plague, A Rebirth And A Pool Party: This Is How Malta’s First Weekend Of August Is Shaping Up

When JP's not too busy working on polyrhythmic beats, you'll probably find him out and about walking his dog.

You may also love

View All