Easter in Malta

From maltawiki.com

Easter is the most important feast in the calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. Due to the dominance of Christianity in the country, Easter is very big in Malta. The Holy Week starts one week prior to Good Friday and is properly marked by the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. This Feast is one of the most important in Malta and is celebrated in most villages, commonly by a procession with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.

On Palm Sunday, various concerts of sacred music are held in churches all over the island. Maundy Thursday is duly marked by following the ritual of the seven visits, where families go around to seven different churches on the island and give a prayer in each church. Good Friday is celebrated by the churches ringing in large wooden rattles from the belfry instead of the church bells. On Good Friday there are processions with twelve large statues with scenes showing the way of the cross. On late Saturday evening, the special Easter mass is celebrated, and attendees to the church are normally handed a candle at the entrance. The ceremony in the church starts in complete darkness untill the priest lights a large candle at the back of the church symbolizing Jesus' resurrection. The fire from the candle is then passed all through the church until the entire church is lit up.

Easter Sunday is a joyous day and a family day. A morning procession with the statue of the risen Jesus is followed by get togethers, lunches and exchanges of Easter presents.