Watch: Xum Pum! Enter The Explosive World Of Malta’s Devoted Fireworks Makers And Lovers
Fireworks brightening up the night sky is a core part of the Maltese identity – but is the tradition and craft dying out, or is it stronger than ever?
Throughout the season, the traditional festi can be enjoyed all over the islands of Malta and Gozo.
Fireworks are a way to remind people, even outsiders, that there is the village festival going on and that everyone is invited.
Traditionally the Festa was the highlight of the year in Catholic Malta and defined the character of the village as they strove to outdo each other. Although the villages have mostly merged together and the fervour for religion has waned, the enthusiasm for the Festa still runs high.
And in the latest episode of Qalb il-Festa, go behind the scenes to enter the world of Maltese fireworks for an inside look most people never get to see.
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The tradition of firework manufacturing in Malta has been going on for centuries with the knowledge handed down from generation to generation.
Over 2,000 people practise this vocation in 35 different factories across the islands – and they are all volunteers doing it out of love.
“The thing that draws you to fireworks is the traditional way in which they are made. A lot of the work is done by hand. It keeps you connected, to your past, to our fathers, to the heritage that, they gave us,” enthused fireworks manufacturer Sandro Ghigo says in the new feature.
The fireworks are very expensive and can cost €50,000 to €60,000 if you begin to burn every day of the feast.
However the lure of the festa is ingrained in the Maltese culture and it is doubtful that this tradition will disappear anytime soon.
You can continue to explore the incredible behind-the-scenes action making Malta’s incredible feasts possible – while learning about all those individuals who make it all possible – in this four-part docuseries about the Maltese Festa.
The series is a co-production between Lovin Malta and Għaqda Nazzjonali Każini tal-Banda, with the support of the Arts Council of Malta.
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