As part of the Gozo Easter Festival Xagħra ended in grand style with a great manifestation with the statue of the Risen Christ followed by a pageant.

Food stalls were selling traditional Easter delicacies (qassatat, figolli, qaghaq tal-għasel, biskuttini tar-raħal). All earnings from the stalls were donated to a family in dire need and the Mission of Gharissa in Kenya with whom Xagħra Parish is twinned. Caslypso train tours took adults and children around Xagħra.

“Ta’ Verna Folk Group” entertained those present with folkloristic music.  The “Għaqda Folklor Xagħra” (Xagħra Folklore Group) under the direction of Ms Josephine Azzopardi undertook folkloristic dances. On the main stage”Children on the Move”sang and danced in between.

The Victory Band, under the directorship of Mro Joseph Galea LCM, arrived in the Square playing marches for the occasion when the statue of Christ Rising from the Tomb appeared in the Basilica main doorway. Pigeons were let loose and flew away passing overhead the statue and the crowd in the Square. The manifestation continued with the statue going round the Church accompanied by the Band and children waving small flags with the red cross over a white background. It was forbidden this year to carry palm fronds because of the palm disease. When the statue was on the parvis on the way into the Basilica, the song “Heal the World”, a song for peace, was sung by the children with the statue of the Risen Christ in the background. Archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo, then called all children present in the Square to go near him with their Figolli and Easter eggs to have them blessed. He then presented a  Figolla to each and every child present.

An original musical pageant,  “Where Do You Come From? Where Are You Going?”, lyrics by Carmel Bajada, music by Mro Ivan Attard and musical arrangements by John Agius, was also held at  Victory Square. The audience followed episodes from the time of the creation, through the life of Jesus Christ to the Resurrection.