Zejt iz-Zejtun - celebrating the olive picking season and olive pressing for oil - will be held in Zejtun on the evening of Saturday 27 and on Sunday morning 28 September. The place name Zejtun in its original Semitic connotation signifies the fruit of the olive trees and the cultivated olive tree, synonymous with the Mediterranean and popular since biblical times. 

As the place name indicates olive tree cultivation and its by-products were a prime activity in the South Coast of Malta in the Punic and Roman era with Zejtun at its’ centre. Over the years, especially with the Arab occupation of Malta at the end of the first millennium cotton gradually replaced the olive tree. In recent years, olive tree cultivation, olive pressing for oil and its’ association with the healthy Mediterranean diet, have made a comeback. 

Zejt iz-Zejtun celebrates and commemorates all this. 

The event organized by the Zejtun Local Council will kick off on Saturday at 7.30pm with the Bandu announcing the event which will be followed by a defile of village folk and farmers on carts carrying the olive harvest for pressing. Drummers and flag bearers in medieval costumes as well as folk singers and dancers will be present. Agricultural tools, typical agricultural products and folk art will be exhibited in the ambience of an old country village and fair. Pride of place will be given to the olive tree. Maltese ftajjar and bread dressed in freshly pressed olive oil will be distributed for free tasting. Olive trees and associated products will be on sale. An audio visual presentation will feature olive tree varieties and their proper cultivation.

Also this year a special exhibition on ‘Milk Production in Zejtun’ will be held at the Pandora Theatre. In Zejtun there are in operation seventeen dairy farmers producing between them nineteen percent (19%) of the total national fresh milk production.

On Saturday all important historical and civic sites will be open to the public

On Sunday morning at 8am a defile of horses and pets will take part in the traditional blessing near the old Parish Church of San Girgor.  The two civic band clubs and church belfries will also be open for public viewing.