Celebrate ‘Il-Vitorja’ Like A Proper Local With These Traditional Must-Dos
Victory Day in Malta is a pretty big deal. People go out to celebrate in many different ways which include village festas, races, mass fireworks and reenactments.
Here’s a list of great events which will keep your day busy like a true Maltese local.
1. Experience a local procession
Merħba bil-Banda waqt il-Purċissjoni
The Għaqda Mużikali Vittorja will be organising a band procession with the titular statue of Marija Bambina near the Naxxar każin.
The celebration will feature the parish band club for the festive celebration.
2. A morning march like no other
Marċ Tradizzjonali ta’ Filgħodu
Għaqda Mużikali Vittorja will also be organising a morning to midday march which will start out at 11 in the morning. The band will be performing throughout the streets of Naxxar, where a proper Maltese festa will be taking place.
3. Enjoy the full-gun salute as you stuff your face with delicious food
Victory Day Full-Gun Salute
The saluting battery in Valletta will be firing a full-gun salute at noon. This is a local tradition which starts off with the firing of seven guns to mark the start of the Regatta — a Maltese boat race which has been going strong since the Middle Ages.
Food and drinks will be served during the open day where people can fire rifles for a minimum fee. Can it get any more Maltese than this?
4. Live through a local feast like a true Naxxari
Il-Banda 12 ta’ Mejju fin-Naxxar
Naxxar is one of those villages which really go out of their way to celebrate Victory Day. The 12th May Band will be performing an open-street march programme for the occasion.
It will start out at St. John’s Street along to the Naxxar Square, where the statue will be accompanied by Bach-Gounod’s Ave Maria.
5. Visit Fort St. Angelo and celebrate an age-old tradition in style
Fort St. Angelo on Victory Day
Fort St. Angelo in Birgu will be organising a commemorative event for Victory Day. There will be a number of activities taking place throughout the day. Educational reenactments will be on display by numerous local groups staging the events which commemorate the day. Mass will also be celebrated at two of the Fort’s chapels. You can also watch the Regatta from the Fort’s bastions, a unique view of the amazing boat race.
6. Get sucked into the Regatta
This traditional boat rowing competition has been around since the Middle Ages, and for a good reason. It entails at least five hours of boat racing along the Grand Harbour. Marsa, Birżebbuġa, Isla, Masamxett, Birgu, Bormla and Kalkara all take place in this amazing race. The boats used the traditional Maltese frejgatini, kajjikki and dgħajjes tal–pass and dgħajjes tal–midalji.
You can watch this magnificent show either from Fort St. Angelo, Birgu, Bormla, Isla or Valletta.
How will you be celebrating Victory Day? Leave us a comment below
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