The Maltese village feast has officially been recognised by international heritage organisation UNESCO, as being an important element of intangible heritage of humankind. This of course was a very welcome piece of great news which was well-received by all festa enthusiasts. My most sincere congratulations to all those involved in achieving this excellent recognition.

Intangible cultural heritage is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. The festa now is recognised alongside the traditional Maltese folk song (Għana) and the delicious local ftira which had already been listed in 2020 and 2021.

Described as a community event of religious origin which remains relevant today despite the increased secularisation of society, UNESCO argues that the festa remains an important part of cultural heritage in Maltese villages, uniting families, outsiders, and local communities in a celebration of popular religiosity and local identities.

In an article on this paper earlier this year, I argued in this same vain. I have never made a secret of my involvement in the organisation of my local festa in Attard. My voluntary involvement in the band club which I have done for many years, way before my involvement in politics, is a privilege which allows me to really understand and feel my community and its aspirations.

Because village feasts are ultimately great expressions of our communities in their clearest form. In all their grandness and flamboyant pageantry, they are annual reminders that our beautiful villages, which are being assaulted and raped by unsightly developments, are living spaces.

Feasts, which can be traced back hundreds of years and which have undoubtedly developed and mutated like any other living thing, bring together neighbours and loved ones who over a week, once a year, reconnect and revisit their roots. When our communities were much stronger, or at least we actually knew who lived next door, festa time was a great way of keeping social ties healthy and people together.

Sadly, this social fabric has been under threat and losing its strength for many years now. This is being reflected in many aspects of our social lives, with our collective losing its influence and ability to regroup and fight when threatened. In fact, the ill-intentioned find it much easier nowadays to ride roughshod and get away with the unthinkable than they would have managed a few years back.

Though feasts remain extremely popular in terms of attendance, people actually taking on the duty to raise funds and organise the entire shindig have never been more challenged to keep their annual appointment than today.

The value of voluntary service amongst our younger generation is becoming a rare treasure, while expenses are skyrocketing with every year that passes. Obligations imposed by authorities, though in some parts understandable, are becoming impossibly onerous, exposing how out-of-touch with the on-ground realities they actually are.

The UNESCO title is fantastic news, but let’s not leave it at that. This should be the perfect impetus for us to really protect and support our intangible heritage. We should take this opportunity to genuinely create a platform that supports this heritage and ensures its survival way into the future. Let’s create the right climate that encourages our young people to take an interest in this age-old tradition, and most importantly let’s sustain our festi with the right funding that they deserve.

I really hope that we will manage to translate this excellent honour into action, reaping the great opportunities we are presented with. Failing to do this, will only be spelling the demise of this much-loved tradition, and this recognition would have been achieved in vain.

I wish the readers of the Malta Independent on Sunday a Holy Christmas and a most prosperous New Year.