Victoria welcomes visitors for Santa Marija feast celebrations

by Gozo News · August 13, 2023

Victoria welcomes visitors for Santa Marija feast celebrations Victoria is currently enjoying the festivities for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known as Santa Marija, which are taking place in the heart of the city

With thousands of visitors expected to attend the celebrations, the Leone Philharmonic Society, together with Ghaqda Zghazagh Iljuni, are organising a variety of events which will be held throughout the city of Victoria, including solemn celebrations, band marches, street festivities, audio-visual and firework shows, to name but a few.

The programme of external activities for the next three days is as follows:

Sunday 13th August

The annual agricultural and industrial exhibition open at 5pm for Santa Marija – Wirja tal-Biedja u Snajja.

9:30pm – The Leone Band (Victoria) and the Santa Marija Band (Zebbug) in Republic Street, salute the Santa Marija statue (1956).

10.00pm There will also be a synchronised fireworks display from the Leone Band Club in Republic Street.

10.00pm The bands march in a demonstration as the statue is carried shoulder high along Republic Street and to Independence Square.

The evening ends as the statue ascends on the grand plinth to popular marches and fireworks at midnight from the rooftops in the city’s main square.

Monday 14th AugustThe traditional Santa Marija agricultural show is open at 10.30am for thousands of visitors at the Villa Rundle public gardens in lower Republic Street.

11:00am – Children’s Parade with the grand flag that flies on the Leone Band Club from the Gozo Cittadella to the Leone Band Club in Republic Street.

12.00pm – Party for the children in the Band Club.

5:30pm – Band march by the Leone Band from Savina Square to the Gozo Cittadella as a spectacle of daylight fireworks is let off from Gelmus Hill.

5.00pm Pontifical Translation of the Relic of Our Lady by Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma from the Church of the Adoration of Savina for the Cathedral.

7:30pm Pontifical Solemn Thanksgiving to God in the celebration of the 48th anniversary of the coronation of the titular Bishop of the Assumption, presided over by E.T. Msgr. Charles Jude Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, together with a delegation of the Metropolitan Chapter of Mdina Cathedral.

9:30pm – A grand triumphal march by the Leone Band (Victoria) and St Sebastian Band (Qormi) as thousands of revellers party from the Leone Band Club, with rooftop fireworks display, along Republic Street to traditional and festive chants ending in Savina Square at 12.30am with a celebration that includes a spectacular firework shows at 1am.

Tuesday 15th August Thousands attend the traditional Santa Marija agricultural show Throughout the morning the traditional Santa Marija agricultural fair is open at the Villa Rundle public gardens in lower Republic Street. The prize giving ceremony takes place at 11.00am.

9:00am – Solemn high Mass presided by The Bishop of Gozo Mgr Anton Teuma at the Gozo Cathedral with the participation of choir and orchestra

11:00am – Traditional and popular band march in the historic centre of Victoria, passing through Victoria’s narrow streets. 12th May (Haz-Zebbug) and St Joseph (Hal-Ghaxaq) bands will participate.

2.15pm – The traditional and popular band march will finish in Independence Square with a spectacular fireworks show synchronised to music, organised by Ghaqda Zghazagh Iljuni

6:45pm – Solemn procession, which will be led by Bishop Giovanni Cefai, with the Santa Marija statue (1896). The Leone Band performs the much-acclaimed cantata in honour of Our Lady “Per La Festa Di Maria Assunta In Cielo” (1913) in an emotional start of the procession which makes its way through the old streets of the city’s historic centre.

Pyrotechnics enthusiasts are invited to attend and witness what promises to be a new national record in the Maltese islands for the biggest burst of sparkles at once.

Malta National Records will be on hand to record it, when the fireworks are let off from Gelmus Hill, with the record expected to be broken some time between 7pm and 7.30pm.

Spectacular coloured fireworks will also be let off during the 4-hour procession during which the Leone Band performs.

8.00pm: March by the St Joseph Band (Ghajnsielem) from the band club to the Cathedral, where it will play a musical programme.

8.00pm: Musical programme by the Victory Band (Xaghra) in Independence Square.

10:00pm – Spectacular and resounding fireworks spectacle lit from Gelmus Hill, visible from the Gozo Cittadella, coordinated by Vampa Organisations.

10:30pm – Solemn entrance of the Santa Marija statue inside the Gozo Cathedral with an aux flambaux gathering in the Cittadella’s main square and access road.