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. This issue of stamps is the sixth in the series.
Bormla - Statue Of The Immaculate Conception
This statue is believed to have been carved in carob-tree wood by the nun Marija Dedomenico, around the year 1680. Our Lady's silver dress was made in Milan by Ghezzi e Figli designed by Abraham Gatt in 1905 , who in 1920 also designed the silver pedestal.
Burmarrad - Statue Of The Immaculate Heart of Mary
The church of Burmarrad was still under construction when the parishioners expressed a wish to commission the sculpture of a statue of Our Lady. A statue, carved in wood, was ordered from a firm in Spain and paid for by the Deguara family.
Gudja - Statue Of Our Lady Of The Holy Rosary
In 1922 the statue was crafted in papier-mâché by Anglu Dalli (aka Tas-Suffari) from Gudja. The platform and pedestal are the work of Manwel Buhagiar while the bench was made by Dwardu Teeling as sculpted by Toni Buhagiar.
Ghajnsielem - Statue Of Our Lady Of Loreto
In 1865 the cholera disease spread out in Gozo. The people of Ghajnsielem vowed that if the village were spared from this disease, they would commission a statue of Our Lady of Loreto. Given that in Gozo, it was only Ghajnsielem that was free of this disease, within a short time funds were collected for the statue to be ordered from the French firm Galard et Fils of Marseille which arrived in Gozo within a year.
Ta' Kercem - Statue Of Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour
In 1897 the statue was crafted in papier-mâché by Gallard et Fils of France during the tenure of parish priest Fr Anton Debono and was paid for by Salvu Grech.
Kirkop - Statue Of St. Leonard Abbot
In 1949, the statue of St. Leonard Abbot was carved in wood and ordered in Ortisei, near Bolzano, Italy. The pedestal was designed by Guzeppi Galea from Victoria.
Lija - Statue Of The Transfiguration Of Our Lord
The statue is the work of the sculptor from Senglea, Charles Darmanin. It is crafted in papier maché and was completed in 1864. The pedestal was made on a design by the sculptor from Cospicua, Abraham Gatt.
Marsa - Statue Of The Holy Trinity
Designed by Guzeppi Galea of Victoria, Gozo, this statue was made in Ortisei, Bolzano, Italy, by F. Stufflesser. The sculpture on the statue began in January 1979 and completed in September 1979.
Zurrieq - Statue Of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel
The statue was carved in wood by the sculptor from Cospicua, Salvu Psaila in 1842. In 1854 two silver halos were installed in the statue while in 1872 the statue was restored by Master Micallef.
Tarxien - Statue Of The Annunciation Of Our Lady
This statue was carved in wood by the sculptor Xandru Farrugia (aka Mastru Xand) from Zejtun. This statue was completed in 1829, though in 1885 some modifications were made by Paul Bugeja of Valletta under the direction of Giuseppe Cali. In 2003 it was re-gilded by John Orlando under the supervision of the sculptor Renzo Gauci.
