On Thursday evening during a concert held in Santa Lucija, Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana presented Maria Stellini with an award in recognition of her work within the locality.
To mark the occasion of the Santa Lucija feast, the Santa Cecilja Foundation, under the direction of Mro. Antoine Mercieca, hosted a Sacred Music concert in the village church.
Dr Caruana congratulated Ms Stellini on her award, as well as the Ta’ Klula Cultural Group, for the organisation of the event and soprano Roberta Hili and musicians. The concert was part of the programme for the Christmas in Gozo festivities.
Saint Lucy, is associated with lengthening days and more sunlight, the protector of light and St Lucy’s Day is today, Friday, the 13th of December.
The feast continues this evening Friday, the 13th with band marches along the main streets of the pretty hamlet.
On the eve of the village feast, Saturday, the 14th the Ta’ Klula Cultural Group organises the annual Festival of Light in honour of the village Patron Saint – Saint Lucy.
This is when a number of young girls, dressed in long white gowns and a red sash, accompanied by an elder girl with a wreath of lit candles on her head, parade from the village square where a large bonfire is lit, to the church.
Santa Lucija buns are distributed to all those present and a brass band will participate in the celebrations. The evening will get underway at 6.30pm.
Also on Saturday, at 10pm, there will be a fireworks spectacle synchronised to music by the Ghaqda Nar u Armar 13 ta’ December.
The hamlet feast will be celebrated on Sunday, the 15th of December, and will start with a solemn Mass at 9am. In the evening at 5pm the programme will feature band marches, and religious celebrations, which will include a procession with the Titular statue from the Church Square through the streets of the village, accompanied by fireworks.
The feast celebrations are organised by the Santa Lucija Parish.
For those who wish to visit the village on Saturday evening using public transport, bus number 313 goes to the village from the Victoria bus terminus.
Photograph: MGOZ/Terry Camilleri