During your stay in Malta, attend a rural festival, also called festaor linger in an “Il-Kazin”: you will see the customs and listen to traditional Maltese music.
Find also in this article the Christmas traditions in Malta.
The Carnival
Since 1535, the Malta Carnival is a great Maltese tradition. An event to be experienced! Five days of celebration with highlights: masked balls, large parades of Floriana or Nadur, final fireworks in the port Marsamxett. Everywhere on Malta and Gozo, the most insane costumes and genius floats parade to the sound of the most frenzied music!
Rural festivals
Every August, the Victoria Agricultural Fair (Il-Wirja ta’ Santa Marija) is an opportunity to discover the handicrafts and food products of Gozo. Its agricultural competition rewards the best horse and dog breeders as well as farmers (sheep, cows, goats).
The strawberry festival (Festa Frawli). The strawberry is to Mgarr what it is to Plougastel Daoulas: a cult! The whole village is mobilized! Its annual festival attracts thousands of people who leave laden with kilos of this delicious red fruit, enjoying drinks, pies and strawberry-flavored cakes. Pleasure of the eyes in front of the compositions exposed on the square of the church, and of the ears with the folk groups which animate the day.
Il-kazin
Each town and village has its own “kazinis”, a kind of club with its own bar, from the English heritage. Young and old alike meet there to have a drink, chat or play cards or billiards, but not only!
Each Kazin is also a “Band Club” with its own fanfare! And it is to the one who will compete with the greatest number of musicians, animations and colors, especially during the festas! Place of political discussions where elections are prepared, it is sometimes very animated! A must-see place in Maltese life!
L-ghana
Pronounced “ana”, this is a traditional song found in Sardinia, Cyprus and Crete. The singer starts an old ballad or an improvisation theme on which he competes with other companions, in a good mood. The guitars accompany the songs. Every year Floriana organizes the L-ghana festival in the beautiful botanical gardens of Argotti.
The music
With English colonization, brass bands and instruments took a back seat to Maltese musical traditions. Nevertheless, folklore groups compose with old wind instruments (bagpipes, flute) and tambourines during the festas. Several of them are regularly invited abroad. A new awareness, in the last decade, brings a dynamic to the traditional music of Malta. It is therefore a pleasure to see young musicians taking over from the old ones.
