Heritage Malta is holding two lectures about Holy Week traditions on 3 and 4 April at 6.30pm at the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa. The lectures, in English, are being organised in collaboration with the Maltese Spanish Cultural Centre.
They are being held in conjunction with an exhibition on Good Friday traditions entitled “Ecce Mater Tua, Ecce Filius Tuus: Good Friday Costumes in Spain and Malta”, currently open at the Inquisitor’s Palace until 15 April.
On Tuesday 3 April, Chiara Felice will speak about “Semana Santa traditions in Spain”, outlining the flavour of centuries-old traditions of the Spanish people.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations, the most Spanish of all events, are still laden with emotion and vital to the identity of Spain. There are numerous important traditions, perhaps the most famous being the spectacular processions with the artistic Pasos taking place all over Spain, especially in Andalucía.
The customs of Semana Santa provide a constant reminder of the Christian, Moorish, Sephardic and Pagan heritage that makes up this unique land.
In the second lecture, on Wednesday 4 April, entitled “Good Friday Traditions in Vittoriosa during the Knights’ period”, Lino Bugeja will discuss traditions related to Vittoriosa that date back to the Order of St John.
Vittoriosa is a melting pot of cultural influences particularly manifest during the time of the Order of St John.
The Greek community that followed the Order of St John out of Rhodes to Malta brought its culture and traditions into the city.
Spanish influences also had a telling impact on the development of the traditional Good Friday procession in the city.
These traditions still manifest themselves to date within the rituals and practices held during Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
Admission to both lectures is free of charge, however seating priority will be given to holders of complimentary tickets that can be collected from the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm) and from Heritage Malta’s head office in Merchants Street, Valletta (Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm). A number of seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis.