Be the first to comment!Colourful costumes, dance, floats & grotesque masks – Gozo Carnival Sunday
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When Grand Master Del Ponte initiated the carnival festivities in Malta way back in 1535 little did he imagine that this popular manifestation was to continue unhindered for centuries up to this day. Carnival comes from the Italian phrase ‘carne vale’ literally meaning ‘meat is allowed’. In the old days during the forty days of lent, meat consumption was not allowed in Roman Catholic religion.
The Gozitan carnival bears witness to a separate and autonomous interpretation of the festive occasion, instilled with a character of its own and is undoubtedly one of the most colourful activities in the local events calendar.
Early on Sunday afternoon, the third day of the Gozo carnival got underway, starting with the traditional pattern of events; grand parades led by four guest maltese dance companies, the local marching band, extravagantly coloured floats perched on trailers, stunning grotesque masks and adult and children’s local dancing groups in beautifully coloured costumes. Republic street once again comes alive, a magical and fun experience for all to see and enjoy.
While the parade continued its way towards the It-Tokk, Victoria’s main square, the arriving participants performed well prepared choreographies to the sounds of music. The evening’s event in Pjazza Indipendenza was presented by top maltese comedians Charles Id-Dulli and Veronica.
Present for the afternoon’s manifestation were Gozo’s Minister Dr Anton Refalo and Mrs M Refalo, H. E. Mrs G Abercrombie-Winstanley, Ambassador to the USA, H. E. Mgr Dr J Vella Gauci, Ambassador to UNESCO and Chairman of the National and Regional Festivities and Mr Guido Vella and Mrs M Vella, Chairman of the Gozo Cultural Council.
Full details, of Monday evening’s Carnival events in Victoria are available here, which starts at 7.00pm, from Vajringa Street with a Defilé to St Francis Square, with dance shows in St Francis Square starting at 7.30pm and will include a Guest Dance Company from the Famous Notting Hill Carnival in London.
