The tradition of decorating the streets
Catholic feasts and festivals take place in Spain, Portugal, Itlay, France, Belgium and Greece but the decoration of streets in such elaborate decor and the use of such complex paraphernalia is unique to the Maltese islands.
The tradition of decorating the streets with wooden triumphal arches, ornate pedestals with papier-mâché saints posing in ecstatic splendour, the intricate drapings and tapestries together with the flags and banners are remnants of baroque festive decorations in the principle cities at the time of the Order of St.John that somehow got imitated by people in the smaller village centers. Incredibly they morphed, evolved and survived to our days, having their last artistic contamination through the British military regalia with its accentuation of pomp and circumstance.
Catholic feasts and festivals take place in Spain, Portugal, Itlay, France, Belgium and Greece but the decoration of streets in such elaborate decor and the use of such complex paraphernalia is unique to the Maltese islands.
The concept behind the festa street decorations for Ħal Għaxaq’s patronal feast is quite simply to create heaven on earth. The square together with streets forming the processional routes are lines with statues of saints and angels, elaborate pedestals and intricately designed drapings and banners dress the village in glorious colours and triumphant heraldry.
The concept is truly theatrical as the tableaux is completed by the procession with the Santa Marija making its entrance in the decorated hub of the village. The idea is the transformation of reality into heaven on earth where angels and biblical figures fly soar above people’s heads.
