Gharb marked the recent 125th Anniversary of the Calling of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu in style on Sunday, with their 7th annual carpet of flowers, which is known as Infiorata.

The parvis in front of the local church was adorned with a carpet of flowers, measuring 45ft long and 14ft wide. 13,000 dozens of coloured flowers were used for the display which depicted Karmni Grima, who 125 years ago, heard the voice of Our Lady coming from the titular painting at Ta’ Pinu.

Every year the design is carefully laid out on a large green carpet, which is kept moist with fresh water, by the designer Rueben Camilleri Cauchi.

All the worked involved in the creation of the Infiorata is voluntary and is undertaken by a number of local and foreign residents of Gharb, who work from 2.00pm till 6.00pm on the day of the feast.

The Infiorata (which literally means: the throwing of flowers in the path of a distinguished personality) consists of a carpet made of fresh flowers and leaves cut in small pieces and arranged together to form various thematic designs.

The Infiorata is an old tradition, the oldest one originating in Gerano, the twinned locality of Gharb, which is found in the outskirts of Rome, Italy. This tradition in Gerano dates back to around the 17th Century.

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