Festa celebration in a typical Gozitan village : the festa of Santa Marija in the village of Żebbuġ, Gozo

Abstract

The ritualistic versions of festa are described by various anthropologists and today form an integral part in the ethnography of Maltese festa. This study is about the development and escalation of festa celebrations in the village of Żebbuġ Gozo. This escalation is strongly conditioned by the overarching power of the festa dilettanti who are committed all year round to the organisation and manufacturing of festa decorations for this grand village event. ‘Briju’ is thus the extravagant event in every village festa, but in the village of Żebbuġ it signatures a ‘revival’ of religious belonging and a strong participation in village social life. Thus, the escalation of festa was mainly resulted by the social rise of different voluntary groups of dilettanti. As a matter of fact, the position of dilettanti in the village is the most valid significance for the success of festa celebrations. Upon reflection, it becomes clear that the meaning of festa in Żebbuġ, is mainly associated with the level of voluntary work. The evidence of this is seen in the active life and full service of every dilettant. Commitment is their code of ethics to manifest their ‘devotions’ and honour ‘Santa Marija’. Their ‘religiousness’ is not a ‘metaphysical one’, but a clear mission to place their festa event in the mainstream of Christian celebrations in Malta and Gozo. Their solidarity reinforces their community and through their innovative aspects of festa they reformulate the idea of escalation year after year. This study would not have been possible without the help and assistance of various individuals. First of all I would like to thank Prof Henry J. Frendo, Director of the Institute for Maltese Studies, for his continuous academic support and for enlightening me with his critical feedback and inspired my research journey with his dynamic and academic spirit. I would also like to express my gratitude to Rev. Dr. Joseph Bezzina and Professor Dr. Horatio C. R. Vella who helped me in deciphering the primary historical sources. A note of thanks goes also to the Archpriest of Żebbuġ Can. Reuben Micallef for his constant moral help. I would like to thank Fr. George Vella who provided me with important information about important events in Żebbuġ during the last sixty or seventy years. I am grateful also to Fr. Geoffrey Attard for his help and support. Moreover I would like to show my gratitude to Dr. Ray Debono Roberts for his helpful measure and for his essential source of inspiration regarding the anthropological aspects of festa. I would like to mention also the people who accepted to be interviewed and were kind enough to give me their feedback during the stages of research.