Thousands expected for Santa Marija feast celebrations in Victoria

Thousands of people are expected to visit Victoria today to enjoy the celebrations for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known as Santa Marija.

The programme for today organised by the Leone Philharmonic Society of Victoria, Gozo, is as follows:

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

A spectacular fireworks show will be let off from Independence Square.2:30pm – National and traditional street horse races in Republic Street which, to date, is known by one and all as racecourse street.

6:45pm – Solemn procession 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. Spectacular coloured fireworks are let off during the 4-hour procession during which the Leone Band performs.

9:00pm – The Santa Marija statue is welcomed in lower Palm Street by the Franciscan Nuns who sing a cappella the Salve Regina in Gregorian plainchant from the terraces of their monastery.

Thousands of people join to witness the devotional scene of the procession before it starts its way up towards the Gozo Cittadella.

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

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.

Photographs by Alain Salvary