Unlike the traditional Maltese Carnival, which has been celebrated since the late Middle Ages, Il-Karnival tas-Sajf is a relatively new addition to Malta’s festival calendar. While the traditional carnival is tied to the liturgical calendar, Summer Carnival Malta is deliberately staged during Malta’s peak tourist season.
The St. Paul’s Bay Local Council initiated the summer carnival in 2008 and entrusted Paul Chetcuti of Catwalk Productions with its organization. The new festival’s main purpose was to introduce tourists traveling to Malta in the summer to the traditional Maltese Carnival, as well as to give locals a chance to relax and unwind. The festival also provided an opportunity for float builders, costume makers, and performers to showcase their art to a different audience in a different atmosphere, without the pressure of a competition.
Il-Karnival tas-Sajf showcases the same traditions as the pre-Lenten Carnival, including parades with elaborate floats, bright costumes, marching bands, dance troupes, and street performances. Since they are held half a year apart and in different locations, the two Carnivals do not compete: the traditional Maltese Carnival is centered in and around Valletta and Floriana, while the Summer Carnival is usually held in coastal resort areas, most notably Bugibba and Marsaskala.
In addition to the parades, the Summer Carnival features il-ġostra, a traditional Maltese game. The name is derived from the Italian word giostra, which means “tournament” or “contest”. For the game, a long wooden pole is mounted at an angle on a pier or barge, extending over the sea. Flags are attached to the end the pole, which is then greased. Players try to reach the end of the pole and grab one of the flags without slipping and falling into the sea. Il-ġostra predates the Summer Carnival by a significant amount of time, but including it helps connect the modern festival to older Maltese traditions.
Il-Karnival tas-Sajf is part of Malta’s busy summer festival season, which also includes the Festgħana folk music festival, the Malta International Arts Festival, the Malta Jazz Festival, Dance Festival Malta, and the Valletta Guitar Festival.
Photo: festivals.mt
