Yesterday, Christians around the world commemorated the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Malta marked the day in its own way, as 12 parishes in Malta and four in Gozo organised their traditional Good Friday procession. Another two processions, in Ghaxaq and Gharghur, were held on Palm Sunday, while on Maundy Thursday a procession set off from St George’s Basilica in Victoria Gozo.

Good Friday is packed with traditions and customs that have survived the Second Vatican Council, which changed the concept of Good Friday from a day of mourning to a day of celebration. However, the Maltese still cling to their customs – from the anchovy pastizzi to flags flown at half mast (and sometimes with black ribbons attached), to black damask hung in churches. Other customs are derived directly from the liturgy, such as the prohibition of the ringing of bells from Maundy Thursday to Holy Saturday evening during mass. As a substitute, a number of parishes, such as Zejtun, still mount a wooden rattle on their belfries and clatter the day away.

But what happens in churches once the rattles die out and the bells sing out that the Lord has risen?

People who go to church tonight will find a completely different church from the one they left yesterday. The Altar of Repose is gone, as are the statues, the high altar is all decorated again and there may also be red damask.

This transformation is carried out by hundreds of volunteers who dedicate their Holy Saturday to helping “dismantle Good Friday and assemble Easter”.

In Zejtun, the men who carry the tableaux and the forcini, the forked upper-ended poles used as stands during processions, make their way to the church at 4am to begin dismantling their respective tableau.

One must note that the tableaux are made in such a way that the statues can be removed from their plinths (bradelli). The bankuni, the wooden structures on which statues are placed when they are not being carried, can also be dismantled.

Zejtun Archpriest Fr Eric Overend explained that the Good Friday Committee, which is responsible for the procession and paraphernalia, has improved its storage facilities, which are at the side of the church. Great care is taken in handling the statues, the plinths and the bankuni, especially the plinths, as they are the only complete set made of inlaid wood in Malta.

In addition, there are also the various crosses, standards, torches and banderols that have to be put away. Zejtun church is draped in black during Holy Week. The archpriest said that some of the black damask would be taken down on Good Friday while the procession in progress. The helpers have some time on their hands as the Zejtun procession, with its five hours running time, is the longest one in Malta.

Fr Overend explained that by 8am, a good part of the church will have been cleared, the black damask removed and the main pillars decorated with red damask. The Altar of Repose is also dismantled by then. He explained that, within two days, all the individual items will have been be stored away properly. At around 9am, a group of women begin washing the floor, which is ready by 10am.

The next step involves taking out the statue of the Risen Christ from its niche in a side chapel and placing it in the nave. Then the chairs, which will have been cleared to make space for the over 100 volunteers, are put back in place, so that the church will be ready by 1.30pm.

In Cospicua, the dismantling process is carried out differently. The Altar of Repose is different from most found on the island. It is a wooden structure, mounted on a scaffold that covers the walls of a side chapel. It is made out of 100 separate pieces. John Galea, one of the church helpers, explained that it takes 10 days for the structure, which was made in 1827, to be assembled. Likewise, it takes the helpers 10 days, working for a couple of hours each day, to dismantle it again and put it in store.

On Good Friday, while the procession is still going round the streets, a group of volunteers takes down the black damask and replaces it with red damask, which is put up only for Easter. The helpers take great care when removing, cleaning and storing the black damask, as it is the only black damask in Malta that is adorned with paintings depicting scenes from the passion. The 14 paintings are the work of Gann Felic Vassallo an artist from Cospicua.

Mr Galea explained how, at 6.30am, a number of helpers arrive at the church and begin unscrewing the various components of the tableaux. Then they remove the ornate sconces. The tableaux are then dismantled and brought to the Oratory at the side of the church and kept there until they are put back in their respective niches during the following week. The plinths and bankuni are stored in the crypt beneath the church. The flowers that were used to decorate the statues are now used to adorn various parts of the church, including the rail surrounding the high altar.

Afterwards, at around 12.30pm, the helpers prepare to assemble the statue of the Risen Christ. They assemble the bankun, then place a large wooden structure representing Christ’s tomb over it. Then, they embark on the delicate process of inching the heavy wooden statue on to the tomb. Once in place, the statue is fastened to the tomb and plinth by one-metre long screws. The tombstone, diadem and palm, all made of silver, are cleaned and screwed onto the statue. In the meantime, a group of women will have begun washing the floor, after which the chairs are put back in place.

In Qormi, the modus operandi is different again. Sacristan Adrian Vella explained that after the last participant in the Good Friday procession has left, he and around nine helpers start cleaning the church and then they replace the black wall-hung damask with the red valances while the procession is parading around the streets. The red valances are left in place until 23 April, the liturgical feast of St George. The black damask is aired then folded and stored away until next year.

The bankuni, are also dismantled and stored safely away. When the statues are brought back to the church after the procession, they are placed on the pews, where they are left until the following day.

On Saturday, the church is opened at 6.30am and some 20 to 25 helpers begin dismantling the larger tableaux such as the Last Supper and the Crucifixion (Il-Vara l-Kbira). Qormi is the only town in Malta that has a tableau of the Last Supper.

The sacristan explained that all the paraphernalia used during the procession also has to be stored away. He said that the costumes that are owned by the church are returned during the week after Easter, according to a schedule. However, the items such as symbols, inscriptions and banners are returned on Good Friday itself and are dismantled and stored on Saturday morning.

As the helpers clear the church, about a dozen women begin washing the floor, and then the pews are brought back to their original place.

The group always tries to have all the tableaux and the Altar of the Repose dismantled and stored away by noon.

The tableau of the Risen Christ is then mounted at around noon, explained Mr Vella. This tableau, which is on display all year round in a niche in the oratory, is first dismantled, and then brought into the church. Then its bankun and plinth are assembled, after which two Roman soldiers, the tomb and the statue of Christ are put in place.