Carnival in Gozo

The first documented evidence of carnival in Malta and Gozo dates back to the time of the Knights of St John around 1535. Throughout the rule of the Order, carnival in Malta had rather a chequered history. In fact in 1535, Grandmaster Pierino del Ponte was outraged by the participation of the knights in carnival activities. He felt that as members of a religious Order, the Knights should not be involved in the festivities of the locals. The tradition of wearing masks may have started around this time as knights tried to disguise their participation in the events.

A century later, another Grand Master took further steps to limit the revelry by prohibiting females from wearing masks and preventing carnival balls being organised in the auberges.

Carnival today…

Carnival today may be a more organised event, but it has not lost any of the spontaneity and energy. The main carnival processions take place in Gozo’s capital city, Victoria while other carnivals in Nadur, and other smaller villages are renowned for their sometimes darker overtones.

Today, many villages also hold their own events, carnival costume competitions and parades, drawing an even larger audience to the festivities. But the hub of the organised activities is in Gozo’s capital Victoria, in Independence Square, where a stage displays open air performances.

So wherever you are on the island, you are likely to come across some sort of carnival activity. And, of course, with carnival being the time to feast and make merry before the austerity of Lent, you cannot miss not tasting the Maltese carnival cake, the prinjolata. Around carnival time, this enormous white dome of sponge, cream, mixed peel and almonds, can be bought from street vendors and cafes all over the island.

While carnival is common in many Mediterranean countries, the festivities in Gozo have unusual characteristics and travelling around at carnival time, you are bound to find yourself swept up in a swirling crowd decked out in elaborate masks.

This year’s Carnival in Gozo is spread over a period of 10 days with a grand defile’ and a carnival street revelry between Saturday 26 February and Tuesday 8 March. The last five days of Carnival, between 4 and 8 March, will also see a unique spontaneous late night carnival in Nadur.