It's Easter Sunday, expecting a soft breeze and warm sunlight to spread across the Gozitan hills. Nature shakes off the last of winter's dust, and the island blooms into colour, fragrance, and quiet energy. This Easter promises more than just a spiritual awakening - it offers a full sensory celebration. With fine weather on the horizon, families, visitors, and locals alike prepare to step outdoors, reconnect with tradition, and savour the joy of spring.
As dawn breaks over the island, a chorus of church bells fills the morning air, calling parish communities together in celebration of the Resurrection. Churches bloom with flowers and flickering candlelight, while voices lift in song, filling the sacred spaces with warmth and exultation. The moment carries a quiet grace that stirs both the faithful and those simply drawn by the spirit of the day.
Victoria wakes up early. Just before nine, excitement stirs around the heart of the city. At St George's Golden Basilica, the faithful line the square. The church doors open, and at 8.45am, Parish confraternities step forward with disciplined reverence, robes swaying gently with each movement. The majestic statue of the Risen Lord, which came out for the first time on Easter Sunday morning of 1997, rises above the crowd. Carried by firm hands, the figure leads the procession through the sunlit streets. The La Stella Band accompanies with energetic marches that lift every step, every glance toward the heavens. Tourists stop to admire the moment, drawn by the emotion that surges through the square. The bells of the St George chime in rhythm with the music, announcing with pride the triumph of life over death.
On the outskirts of Victoria, another bell joins the chorus. At the Capuchins Friary, standing modestly on the fringe of the city, the old bronze bell tolls. Its deep, solemn voice reaches across the fields and valley to Marsalforn, marking the moment of Christ's rising. Few places can match the simplicity of this signal. No pageantry, no large gathering-just the clear, honest sound of faith ringing through the morning air. It reaches those walking along paths, sitting on verandas, or heading toward Victoria, reminding them of the sacred heartbeat that pulses through the island.
After the solemnity of the morning celebrations in several villages, Gozo opens up. Life spills out into the streets and countryside. The island, generous as ever, offers a natural theatre where every visitor becomes part of the unfolding story.
One of the most cherished traditions on this day doesn't take place indoors. It happens on winding paths, rocky coastlines, and open fields. Gozo's countryside, green from recent rainfall, stretches out in welcome. The views from the Citadel tell the story better than words. From its centuries-old bastions, one sees patchworks of cultivated fields, clusters of yellow wildflowers, and persons strolling along country trails. The entire island, from this height, feels like a garden in full song.
Several visitors venture their way to Xwejni Bay, where the saltpans sparkle like glass under the morning sun. The sea rests calm and inviting, its blue hues deepened by the clear sky. Couples walk along the beach, while children pick up pebbles, shells, and the occasional piece of sea glass. The place hums with quiet contentment.
At Dwejra, the cliffs, and Fungus Rock play host to awe and wonder. Tourists capture images the Inland Sea, while others lie on the quay, letting the sea breeze carry away their thoughts. The scene carries a stillness that complements the spiritual mood of the day. The emptiness left by the fallen Azure Window has not dimmed the magic of this place. If anything, it has turned the focus inward - to the permanence of limestone, sea, and sky.
In Sannat, the Ta' Ċenċ cliffs offer a more rugged encounter with nature. Birds circle overhead, and wild thyme perfumes the air. Here, families walk without a rush, letting the day unfold step by step. The quiet becomes a kind of prayer.
Meanwhile, in the heart of Victoria, Villa Rundle bursts into colour. This will be the place to be this Easter for a lively family-friendly celebration-Hip Hop Hurray! An event which will feature a variety of activities, especially for children. Highlights include Mr Bunny handing out chocolate eggs, party games, rides, a bouncy castle, arts, crafts, dance performances, storytelling, and much more! Easter Sunday here blends faith with festivity. Parents rest on benches, looking with serene smiles. For many, this stop becomes the centrepiece of the day - a chance to meet friends, share laughter, and let the youngest among them enjoy Easter through play and imagination.
No Easter Sunday in Gozo reaches its full flavour without a proper meal. Restaurants fill up quickly, tables reserved well in advance. The smell of roasted lamb, baked pasta, roasted potatoes and fresh herbs drifts from open kitchens. Families gather around tables, sharing opinions and memories as they dig into plates heaped with local goodness. Drinks flow generously, and conversations spill across generations.
Then comes the moment every child - and not a few adults - has waited for. The Figolla, shaped like hearts, butterflies, fish, or rabbits, these almond-filled pastries covered in pastel icing carry the unmistakable signature of Gozitan Easter. Each one hides a chocolate egg or decorative surprise. Some come topped with tiny chicks or edible flowers. The first bite always brings a smile.
Alongside the Figolla, Easter eggs - big and small - make their rounds. Shops have long since filled their shelves with imported and locally made versions, but the real magic happens when parents hand over carefully chosen eggs to their children, watching eyes light up. At that moment, chocolate, while sidelining for a moment, any dietary concerns become more than just a treat. It becomes a symbol of love, care, and celebration.
The afternoon moves at a slower pace. Some return to the countryside, now glowing with golden light. Others take a stroll through the old streets of Victoria or along the seaside promenades of Marsalforn and Xlendi. Locals sit outside their boathouses, sipping coffee or beer, nodding to passersby. Visitors conquer these moments, taking photos, capturing the light, the faces, the feeling of the day.
This Easter, Gozo extends not just an invitation, but a heartfelt embrace. The island knows how to celebrate without fanfare, how to mix the sacred with the simple. Its traditions don't shout, they whisper, sing, and smile. This year, with the sun warming the air and the fields still green from the March rains, the season's promise feels especially alive. It reminds us that even after a grey winter, colour returns. That Gozo remembers how to grow, and the people how to rejoice.
Easter in Gozo holds no need for a grand spectacle. The island's beauty, its traditions, its people do enough. They write the day's story with every Mass sung, every trail walked, every meal shared.
Those who come to Gozo this Easter will not only find a place. They'll find a mood, a rhythm, and a sense of belonging. Whether standing atop the Citadel, looking out over the entire island, or sitting on a bench in Villa Rundle, watching children enjoying themselves, they'll feel something timeless.
Spring has arrived, Easter has come, and Gozo, once again, shows how to celebrate life in all its gentle glory.
A peaceful Easter to all readers, their families, and staff at The Malta Independent on Sunday.