Today the grand finale of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known as Santa Marija, is being celebrated in Victoria.

The feast of Santa Marija is also being celebrated in seven villages in Malta, Attard, Dingli, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Mosta, Mqabba and Qrendi.

Maltese and visiting tourists are also enjoying the festa celebrations, many of them staying here for the long weekend, however many hotels and other types of holiday accommodation are reporting a decline in bookings compared to previous years. A spokesperson from the Gozo Tourism Authority said that the island was showing a 20% decline in bookings this year to date.

Today also commemorates the 67th anniversary of the arrival of the Santa Marija convoy, which saved Malta from surrender when the allied convoy of food and fuel reached the islands on the 15th of August 1942, despite the heavy bombardment inflicted by German and Italian planes and the sinking of many of the ships.

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