Maltese Easter Traditions
by Daniel Bartolo

Ash Wednesday/Lent

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday with the blessing and imposition of ashes on the head of the faithful, as a sign or penance and repentance. In Maltese we still use the word 'head' so as to signify the beginning of something very important. This day is marked by fasting, penance and usually penitential pilgrimages with the statue of Christ the redeemer i.e. Christ carrying the cross. Today, Ash Wednesday is still a school holiday for all children and students in the Maltese islands.

The most common form of devotion, besides the Mass and the Eucharist, is the WAY OF THE CROSS, which consists of fifteen stages each dealing with some of the most important events in Jesus Christ's suffering, death and resurrection. This particular devotion, started by the Franciscans in the Middle Ages, re-enacts Christ's suffering along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, which was the road the Christ followed from the atrium of Pontius Pilate to his death on the Cross on Golgotha. These celebrations usually fall in the beginning of spring.

In days gone by they used to speak in a low voice as a sign of penitence. Some of them used to put their cooking pots upside down. Churches used to ring a particular tone in order to help people remember about fasting and penitence. People and priests used to make a lot of noise as soon as the last candle was blown off in church. It was a remembrance of the earthquake, which occurred exactly after the death of Christ. On the candlestick there used to be fifteen candles!

Hadd in-Nies (People's Sunday)

The first Sunday in Lent, an annual national pilgrimage in the Our Lady of Grace sanctuary in Zabbar occurs till this very day. Throughout the centuries it has been kept alive. Originally these crowds used to fulfil their vows and acts of penitence on Ash Wednesday. As it was a working day, it began to be celebrated in the following Sunday. About eighty years ago it was re-organised with a more religious meaning as the crowds used to turn it into another enjoyable day with a festive mood partaking delicious food and wine.

Spiritual exercises ('Ezercizzi') introduced by the Jesuits are still very popular. They are conducted according to various categories of people. They were introduced at a time when mass was celebrated in Latin. Hence they satisfied people's thirst for learning. In fact homilies were actually theological explanations about our faith. They were people's catechisms. Many times the pedagogy of terror was used. Some of the preachers were famous orators full of Latin citations.

Our Lady of Sorrows

The Friday before Palm Sunday is usually dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows. This is also a very important day and a day of great devotion. Many people do fast out of devotion, and take part in the procession with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows. Some confessors admit that this particular day is more effective than Good Friday when it comes to the sacrament of reconciliation! Many people identify their sufferings with those of the mother of God.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, which culminates in the Easter Triduum i.e Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, that lead to Easter Sunday, the biggest feast of the Church, commemorating Christ's victory through his passion and death on the cross. Usually a small procession takes place in order to commemorate Christ's donkey ride through the euphoria of the crowds. The environmentalists will have a special day as hundreds of palm trees will have whole branches cut off simply for a one-day occasion !

Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday in the morning, the Archbishop leads a big co celebration at St. John's Cathedral in Valletta, with the participation of most of the priests of the Island. During this Mass, the Archbishop consecrates the Holy Oils, and all the priests renew their religious vows to Christ, to the Church and to God's people. This is called the Mass of the Chrism.

In the evening, in most of our churches, takes place the celebration of the Eucharist, commemorating the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood. The most touching part for the common people maybe is the washing of the feet of twelve men. It gives the meaning of priesthood as a service to the neglected ones involving even the most humiliating experiences. Then the Blessed Sacrament is taken in procession to the altar of repose where it remains until Friday afternoon. Parishes compete in order to make the best flower arrangements in front of the blessed sacrament. In some parishes they prepare a mixture of herbs in a pot (on low heat), in order to have a pleasant smell in the church building.

People throng to visit the 'seven churches' ('seba' vizti') on Maundy Thursday. Christians kneel, reflect and pray beside the tomb of Christ. They pass one from one church into another. The religious confraternities usually take great care to organise well these visits. They take out a large cross accompanied by two lanterns. Nowadays they take a mobile audio system so that all the people in the street will hear clearly the never lasting prayers. Another particular tradition is the replica of the apostles table during the first eucharist celebrated by Christ. Another particular tradition is the replica of the apostles table during the first eucharist celebrated by Christ. There is so much attention nowadays in order to reproduce the Jewish tradition in a scrupulous manner.

Good Friday

Years ago, on Good Friday there used to a homily lasting three hours! Usually it inflicted a sense of guilt on the common people for Christ's death. In the afternoon in all churches, The Passion and death of Our Lord is commemorated in a special service, consisting of the Word of God, The Adoration of the Cross and Holy Communion. No masses are celebrated today. There are some parishes where a wooden rattle ("cuqlajta") is used instead of the church bells.

In many parishes and/or houses there will be on display a show of small statues depicting the most important aspects of Christ's passion, death and resurrection. The dedication and enthusiasm of these people sometimes goes beyond the normal sacrifices required in other work sections of life. It's a common practise that they fork out hundreds of Maltese liri in order to make the show more attractive to locals and tourists alike.

After the celebration of the Word in the church, Malta is turned into Roman and Jewish pageantry. In the inner core of villages one comes near Pontius Pilate and Barabbas! Sometimes the procession has nearly the whole biblical story and hence may include Adam and Eve too. People do some odd penitence such as carrying heavy weights or walking barefoot! Some cover up their faces as they pay the price for a special grace they received.

Most of these statues are very artistic and lifelike. One can feel the Spanish influence on these statues, where the statues are draped in real vestments. The local bands do participate in these processions by playing funeral music. Many people do take part also by dressing as biblical personages that had a connection with the Passion of Our Lord.

Holy Saturday

On Holy Saturday in the evening, around 8pm, there is a special celebration to commemorate Christ's rising from the death. This celebration heralds THE EASTER FESTIVITY in honour of The Risen Christ. Celebrations start in pitch darkness. They are then illuminated by flickering candle lights. Finally there is an 'explosion' of light where churches are suddenly illuminated with candles, chandeliers, bulbs, floodlights etc. Bells toll happily as they break the night's normal silence in order to announce Christ's central event - resurrection, exactly when the singing of the 'Glorja' commences. Normally baptisms take place. Catholics are urged in order to answer once more to faith's main responsibilities.

Easter Sunday

The Easter Sunday procession is a very colourful one. The kids enjoy carrying the figolla with them. This figolla is a typical Maltese delicatessen associated with this time of Easter. There are moments in this procession when the statue of the Risen Christ is really given a run by the bearers. This is an old Maltese tradition especially in the three Cities, Vittoriosa, Cospicua and Senglea. A visit to any locality where this Easter celebration takes place is really rewarding.

In the following days priests do the blessing of the houses by visiting nearly all the houses in a parish. People are given some olive leaves. Many years ago they used to fumigate their houses by burning olive leaves in order to ward off the evil eye.