Religious feasts in Malta are an integral part of the local heritage and culture and for centuries their celebration has been handed down from one generation to another. Annually religious feasts are celebrated across the Islands, mainly during the summer season. Traditionally each village, richly decorated for the occasion, celebrates a feast in honour of its own patron saint. The celebrations reach their peak when the statue of the patron saint is carried shoulder-high around the village streets.
Valletta - Statue of St. Paul - The statue of St. Paul, carved in wood and sculpted in Rome by Maltese artist Melchiorre Gafa' was brought to Malta in 1659 though first carried around the streets of Valletta during a procession held in 1690.
Nadur - Statue of St. Peter & St. Paul - The statue of Saints Peter and Paul was commissioned by its parish priest, Rev. John Camilleri, in 1882 and crafted by Gallard et Fils in Marseille, France. Upon arrival in Malta, the statue needed some finishing touches and the Capuchin friar GioBattista Mamo carried these out.
Hamrun - Statue of the Immaculate Conception - The statue of the Immaculate Conception was crafted in Rome in papier-mâché and was a gift from the church of St. Francis in Valletta.
Mdina - Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel - The statue of the Virgin of Mount Carmel was sculpted in wood in 1761 by Andrea Imbroll.
Hamrun - Statue of St. Gaetan - The statue of St. Gaetan, in papier-mâché, was crafted by the artist Karlu Darmanin between the years 1885 and 1888.
Valletta - Statue of St. Dominic - This statue of St. Dominic, carved in wood in the Baroque style, is believed to be an unfinished work of the artist Melchiorre Gafa'. The statue dates to pre-1687 when it was recorded for the first time in the administration books of the Dominican Convent.
St. Julian's - Statue of St. Julian - The statue of St. Julian by the artist Karlu Darmanin was made in papier-mâché and completed on the 13th of August 1893. A benefactor, Salvatore Mattei, donated the statue.
Zurrieq - Statue of St. Catherine - In 1803 the Church Authorities commissioned the artist Mariano Gerada to carve in wood the statue of St. Catherine of Alexandria. This statue was first carried around the streets of the village during a procession held in 1818.
Senglea - Statue of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin - The statue of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin popularly known as 'Maria Bambina', dates back to 1618 when an Austrian galley discovered a wrecked galleon near the Dalmatian Islands.
A statue resembling the Blessed Virgin was found floating near the galleon and this statue was donated to the Senglea parish church.
Gudja - Statue of Our Lady of Consolation - The statue of Our Lady of Consolation was crafted by Gallard et Fils in Marseille, France. This was brought to Malta in the late 19th Century.
