Strong winds and light rain over Malta and Gozo have led to the disruption and cancellation of Good Friday processions in most localities.

Parishes in different localities, including Naxxar, Senglea and Żebbuġ Gozo, were forced to cancel the processions just hours before they were due to begin.

Processions in Luqa, Żejtun, Qormi, Vittoriosa, Rabat, Valletta, Żebbuġ, Mosta and Cospicua in Malta, and Xagħra and Victoria in Gozo were also called off later.

Most organisers said they were disappointed that they could not be holding the procession, but they thought it was best to cancel it because of security reasons as well as to protect the statues, which could have easily been damaged by the winds and the rain.

Enthusiasts spent the afternoon dismantling the Good Friday decorations in the respective churches, and storing the statues, rather than in the streets of their locality, as can be seen in these pictures taken in Victoria. 

Photos Giuseppe Attard

The organisers hope that the weather will improve for the Resurrection processions to be held regularly on Easter Sunday.

Holy Week enthusiasts have been eagerly waiting to celebrate and participate in such religious events. The traditional processions had to be cancelled in recent years to the Covid-19 restrictions, but were set to return back to normal this year.

The Malta International Airport weather station issued a yellow warning with East-Northeasterly winds that could reach 7 on the Beautfort Scale in certain areas.

Weather analysts at Windfinder are also predicting that gusts of wind will reach up to force 9 in the afternoon.

 

On Thursday, the traditional 'fjakkolata' was held in several localities, including Siggiewi (photo below).