122 parish feasts were celebrated in Malta and Gozo in 2011, involving 3,870 organisers and 8,173 participants in feast processions.
In 2011, 122 feasts were celebrated in Malta and Gozo of which 95, or 78 per cent, were primary feasts. The largest share were celebrated in the Northern Harbour district (21 per cent), closely followed by the Southern Harbour district and Gozo and Comino.
The majority of parish feasts (86 per cent) were celebrated both internally and externally. Local choirs performed in 53 per cent of parish feasts, while external choirs were hired for just over a quarter of the events. A minority of one per cent availed themselves of an external choir for free. An orchestra was hired for the majority of parish feast celebrations, with only five per cent using an orchestra belonging to the parish.
In 2011, 455 band performances were given at feasts organised around Malta and Gozo. Of these 130, or 29 per cent, were given by local band clubs and the rest by visiting band clubs from other localities.
During the year under review, persons assisting in the organisation of these events numbered 3,870, a slight increase over 2010. The largest proportion of organisers were males (76 per cent) with the majority aged 18-64. On average, every parish feast had 32 organisers. This average for the Southern Harbour district surpassed all others at 42 organisers per parish feast.
In 2011, active participants in feast processions amounted to 8,173, three per cent more than the preceding year. Here again, males dominated with 84 per cent, although a small increase in female participation was recorded. With an average of 151 procession participants per feast, the Northern district topped all others, followed by Gozo and Comino with 80 participants.
The total expenditure on parish feasts in 2011 amounted to €1.5 million, an average of €12,155 per feast. Thirty-one per cent was incurred on external activities and 16 per cent on administrative aspects. Remuneration of participants made up only four per cent of total expenditure, indicating the high proportion of voluntary participation in such events. Total income was €1.3 million, at par with the previous year, the main share – 61 per cent – comprising feast donations.
These figures are supplied by the National Statistics Office.
Photograph by Alfred Grech.