Discover Culture

Marching bands

 

  • What they are: Every town has at least one band club, often more, that trains musicians all year for the feast.

  • Role:

    • They play festive marches in the streets.

    • Accompany religious processions.

    • Host concerts during the week.

  • Parade atmosphere:

    • Young and old musicians, flag bearers, and sometimes kids throwing confetti.

    • Locals follow behind the band in a joyful mini-parade.

  • Band rivalry: In some towns (like Żabbar or Mosta), there are two or more bands that have healthy — sometimes heated — competition during the festa season.

 

 

Fireworks

 

  • What they are: A central feature of Maltese feasts — loud, colorful, and incredibly impressive displays of both aerial and ground fireworks.

  • Types:

    • Aerial shells: High in the sky with loud booms and colorful bursts.

    • Ground fireworks ("Nar tal-art"): Giant spinning wheels, intricate shapes, and towers that light up in a show of coordinated motion and fire.

  • When: Fireworks happen every night during feast week — building up to the grand display on feast eve and the feast day itself.

  • Who makes them: Local fireworks factories run by volunteers. Many towns are proud of their pyrotechnic traditions and even compete for the best display.

  • Fun fact: Malta has one of the highest densities of fireworks shows in the world during summer