August has become synonymous with travel. As offices wind down for a mid-summer break, many seize the opportunity to trade the island’s sizzling temperatures for cooler climes. But this could not be further from the truth for the people of Victoria — specifically locals from the parish that celebrates the beloved feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, known locally as Santa Marija. To these parishioners, August is festa month, and without a shadow of a doubt Victoria is the only place to be.
The statue of Santa Marija hoisted on a pedestal at Independence Square (It-Tokk). Photo: Baron Holiday Homes
Santa Marija festivities culminate on the 15th of August, when the day starts with a special Pontifical Mass celebrated at the Gozo cathedral. The August heat and uphill walk to the cathedral, perched within the fortified walls of the Citadel, do very little to deter devotees of Santa Marija from donning their Sunday best and participating in the lengthy religious celebration in the morning.
In the evening, the cathedral becomes the focal point once again, with hundreds of locals thronging the cathedral square, the steps leading to the church, and every nook available to witness the majestic exit of the statue of Our Lady to a beautiful cacophony of unmistakable festa sounds. As the bells peal; the band shifts from slow hymns to triumphant marches; the crowds clap along jubilantly; fireworks boom from nearby Gelmus Hill; and confetti rain down on the honey-hued square, it is difficult not to get caught in the moment.
Fireworks let off from Gelmus Hill on the 15th August. Photo: Baron Holiday Homes
This is followed by a procession through the main streets of the city, which are transformed into a spectacle of light and colour thanks to countless hours of work put in by volunteers ahead of festa week. It is no secret that a little rivalry fuels the parishioners of Victoria’s two main feasts — Saint George and Santa Marija — to take things up a notch each year in terms of street decorations, fireworks, and general celebrations in an effort to outdo the competition. To non-locals, this competitive element may seem at odds with the religious core of feasts, but it has also been credited with helping keep traditions alive and thriving in many villages across the Maltese Islands.
Photo taken at the Agricultural fair at the Villa Rundle Gardens. Photo: Baron Holiday Homes
Having stood the test of time for 170 years, with the exception of a brief COVID-induced hiatus, one of the oldest traditions associated with the feast of Santa Marija is the agricultural fair held at Villa Rundle Gardens, located along Victoria’s main street. Held over two days on the 14th and 15th of August, this fair is one of the few remaining platforms that gives locals the opportunity to showcase home-grown produce, agricultural machinery, and artisanal work. Animal owners also vie for the top prize in their respective categories, proudly showing off their dogs, rabbits, horses, birds, and other livestock to both judges and visitors.
A centuries-old tradition. The Santa Marija street horse races - now held at night to spare the horses the harsh August sun. Photo: Baron Holiday Homes
As the fair unfolds beneath the shade of Villa Rundle’s trees, just a short walk away, Republic Street begins its own dramatic transformation. This is when the City's main thoroughfare sheds its everyday rhythm and bursts into life as a racecourse, echoing with the thunder of hooves and the cheers of spectators. The Santa Marija horse races have long been one of the day’s most anticipated spectacles — a tradition deeply woven into the island’s cultural fabric. While today’s celebrations have adapted to modern sensibilities, including holding the races during the cooler hours or on a nearby weekend, the spirit remains unchanged. Riders still mount their horses bareback and charge through the heart of Victoria, upholding a custom whose roots stretch back to at least 1587, when the races were first run to encourage the breeding of strong horses for the island’s defence. More than just sport, this living tradition brings generations together in a shared moment of exhilaration — a scene that continues to embody Gozo’s vitality and communal pride each festa season.
Beautifully decorated streets are a hallmark of traditional festa celebrations. In Victoria, the rivalry between the two main feasts pushes each parish to outshine the other — resulting in extraordinary detail across every element of the festa, from street décor to fireworks. Photo: Baron Holiday Homes
Another important part of the feast day is the afternoon march, which is best described as a rowdy, non-religious street party that draws in the younger generations. Clad in blue, the colour traditionally associated with Our Lady, a younger crowd takes to the streets of Victoria under the blazing sun, releasing blue balloons, waving flags, and chanting songs that boast of the superiority of their festa to everyone else’s, with a couple of light-hearted jabs at their rivals thrown in for good measure.
Beyond its religious and cultural importance, the 15th of August also marks a pivotal moment in the history of the Maltese Islands. On this day in 1942, five vessels from the Operation Pedestal convoy arrived into Grand Harbour, carrying desperately needed supplies, most crucially fuel. At a time when Malta was on the brink of starvation amid the relentless siege of World War II, their arrival brought new hope of survival, and fittingly, the convoy has come to be known locally as the "Convoy of Santa Marija".
Posted in Activity, Cultural activities, Festa, Fireworks, Heritage, Local, Things to do, Traditions, Victoria, What to see in Gozo
View all blog posts