Gozo’s Ta’ Cangura – San Lawrenz folk group are planning a special weekend to celebrate their 10th anniversary this year. Over the past ten years this group has not only moved from strength to strength in aspects such as membership, organisation and in presenting traditions in a creative and innovative way, but also managed to successfully fuse celebration and education too.

This is the reason for choosing to celebrate this special anniversary by organising a folk festival with a difference, themed ‘Living Culture by Sharing Identities.’

The festival kicks off on Thursday, the 16th of October with an exhibition of traditional objects and old photos at the San Lawrenz Parish Centre.

Then on Friday, the 17th of October, there will be a Lecture about Maltese Traditional Costumes by expert Ms. Claire Bonavia, at San Lawrenz Parish Centre.

Saturday morning, the 18th of October, will be dedicated to cultural tours, when visitors will have the opportunity to walk through the narrow and winding streets of San Lawrenz village while they witness live reenactment of trades from the past.

These trades include: Il-buttar(Pottery maker), il-qalfat (cane making),l-iskultur tal-gebel (stone sculpture), Bizzilla (lace making),is- sajjied (fisherman trade), il-Haddied (blacksmith), il-bidwi (farmer) and others

In the evening there will be a celebration of folk music and dancing with the participation of Ta’ Cangura Folk Group (adults, youths and childrens groups), Jackson’s Zaqq u Tanbur Folk Group, *Sinnet Folk Group-Sannat, Mnarja Folk Group-Nadur, Paul Curmi Dance Company and Greenfields.

The re-introduction after an absence of more than 40 years, of the San Lawrenz Traditional Kummittiva dance will be the highlight of this show, which will be presented by Mr Charles Saliba.

On Sunday, the 19th of October, there will be a Thanksgiving Mass at San Lawrenz parish church and afterwards a traditional 3-course meal where visitors will not only have the opportunity to eat Maltese food but will also experience the traditional cooking methods of our ancestors.

Tickets for the meal can be booked by phoning on 79030604 or sending an email on ta_cangura@mail.com

This busy weekend will come to an end with the launching of a book about traditional games for children (Passju, Dawra Durella, Iz-zunzana ddur ddur, Xixi, Brilli, Ballun stop), as well as organised games for children.

The Folk Fest is co-financed by the Rural Development Programme for Malta 2007 – 2013 (a Project co-financed by the European Union’s Agricultural Fund for Rural Development – 80% and the Government of Malta – 20%) as part of the EU’s policy to invest in the potential of rural areas.

A full programme and further details can be found on www.sanlawrenz.com, facebook.com/dawradurellafolkfest or by sending an email on ta_cangura@mail.com.

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