Yesterday, Christians around the world commemorated the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Malta marked the day as 12 parishes in Malta and seven in Gozo organised their traditional Good Friday procession.

While some of the Gozo processions were held on different days of Holy Week, another two processions, in Ghaxaq and Gharghur, were held on Palm Sunday.

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 (cuqqlajta) on their belfries and clatter the day away.

Roman Catholics hold no mass celebration after the commemoration of the Lord's last supper on Maundy Thursday evening until the Easter Vigil celebration.

On Maundy Thursday, the Catholic liturgy provides for the removal of the Blessed Sacrament to an altar of repose which is decorated in white flowers, from which it is then removed on Good Friday. The altar of repose in the various churches is venerated in the 'visits to the seven churches' which the faithful undertake on the evening of Maundy Thursday or the morning of Good Friday.

The main altar remains completely bare, without cross, candlesticks or altar cloths. The holy water fonts are emptied in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. Traditionally, no bells are rung on Good Friday or Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil in the evening.

The only sacraments given between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are confession and anointing of the sick. Holy Communion is given only in the veneration of the Cross Service held at 3pm on Good Friday.

The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord and traditional Good Friday processions takes place in the afternoon.

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 replacing the gloom. Helpers prepare to assemble the statue of the Risen Christ. In the meantime, a group of women will have begun washing the floor, after which the chairs are put back in place. This transformation is carried out by hundreds of volunteers around the islands who dedicate their Holy Saturday to helping dismantle Good Friday and assemble Easter.