The scorching sun yesterday morning did not deter thousands of people from flocking to the annual traditional Mnarja feast, to participate in what may be described as the oldest celebration in Maltese history, better known as the feast of St Peter and St Paul.

In Buskett, limits of Rabat, a large selection of vegetables, fruit and other agricultural products were on display and animals of all shapes and sizes created the right atmosphere, especially for children who wanted to touch every animal, most of which spent hours tied in the sun.

Traditional Maltese folk singing and noises of animals that had had enough of the event filled the normally quiet and peaceful gardens as President Edward Fenech Adami and Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino handed out awards for the best displays.

According to history books, the origins of the feast of St Peter and St Paul, which later took the name of Mnarja, date back to the 15th Century when fire torches were lit around the Mdina bastions and cathedral.

Years before, people from all over the island used to gather around the Mdina bastions and pass the night eating, drinking and singing. The torches, which were known as luminaria, gave the name to this feast that could be described as one of the most traditional and most loved of all. It has been held for centuries, even before the arrival of the Knights of St John in 1530.

As time passed, the event moved to Buskett where, in more recent years, farmers gathered to show off their best products, while dining on Maltese-style rabbit remained the order of the day. The celebrations were revived by the Agrarian Society in 1986.

Yesterday, it seemed like a plate of fish and chips, some imqaret and doughnuts were preferred to a meal of rabbit. Farmers were overheard speaking about a scarcity of rabbit and the possibility of a rabbit disease. Beer and wine were also widely consumed, as was ice-cream, in view of the hot day that turned out.

Animal lovers absolutely hate this annual event. Mnarja is certainly not an enjoyable day for the animals. Year in, year out, people watch animals being ill-treated – birds of all types, sizes, shapes and colours were locked up in their miniature cages in the blistering heat. Rabbits, pigeons and other animals were also crammed into small enclosures for the better part of the day. Luckily, the animals were spared from direct sunlight on a summery day, since they were displayed under the massive metal canopy at Buskett Gardens.