Holy Week and Easter in Malta - What's going on?
Holy Week and the upcoming Easter celebrations are among the most magnificent highlights of Malta. They begin on the evening before Palm Sunday. Several cathedrals and churches celebrate Holy Week and Easter with colorful processions. On rain-free spring days with temperatures around 18 degrees Celsius and plenty of sunshine, Malta offers a lot during Easter week:
- 5 Km Polrun
- Intersport La Valette Marathon, Half-Marathon + Walkathon
- Easter Crafts at Playmobil Fun Park
- Popeye Village Easter Spectacle
- 19th Edition of the Good Friday Night Walk
- “Bring It Back” – the Easter Special in Malta’s largest disco
…to name just a few excerpts from the WoM Event Calendar 99+. By the way, Easter Monday is not a public holiday and the time is set forward by one hour…
Malta's Easter, Easter Traditions, and Holidays
In Malta, alongside all other attractions, the fantastic Easter processions starting from Holy Week are an unforgettable spectacle. They begin on the Saturday, 8 days before Easter Sunday, and the Easter festival ends on Easter Sunday. Easter Monday is not a public holiday in Malta. The processions on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or Easter Sunday in Victoria on Gozo, Qormi, Mosta, Valletta, Zebbug, and Birgu Vittoriosa are famous. Participants carry life-sized biblical wooden figures during the processions. During Easter, Malta’s churches are decorated and illuminated colorfully in the evenings. Some celebrations are broadcast on Xejk TV, Radju Katidral, and Gozo Cathedral FB.
What Are the Easter Traditions in Malta?
On the Friday before Palm Sunday, the first services and processions take place. On the Friday before Good Friday, Malta venerates Our Lady of Sorrows. The processions of Our Lady of Sorrows occur at various times between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The most famous are in the capital Valletta and on Gozo in Victoria, the Cathedral of the Assumption. On Palm Sunday, believers are blessed with palm leaves and olive branches in churches and cathedrals. In Ghaxaq, the first procession of Easter in two acts takes place at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. On Maundy Thursday, the “seven visits” to seven different churches occur. Some communities organize a procession afterward. On Good Friday, most processions take place. In the Passion of Christ, participants dress up as biblical characters. Men carry a large wooden cross and drag or pull chains tied to their legs. Easter Sunday begins with the morning ringing of church bells, announcing Christ’s resurrection. The processions taking place on Easter Sunday through the streets are accompanied by musicians and often last longer than two hours. Children receive chocolate-covered Easter eggs and a figolla. The Easter pastry figolla, filled with almond or marzipan, is shaped like a rabbit, lamb, fish, or other figures associated with the Catholic faith. It was traditionally a gift at the end of Lent.
Good Friday and Easter Explained for Children
What Is Celebrated on Good Friday?
Perhaps the most important Christian holiday of all. On Good Friday, Jesus Christ was crucified. But why is the Crucifixion a sign of God’s love, grace, and redemption? Torturing and mocking, dying slowly outside the city of Jerusalem? Christians believe that Jesus died for people nearly 2000 years ago. God loves people so much that He sent His own Son to Earth. This was associated with the eventual death of humans. God loved people so much, He allowed His Son to die as a young man. Although, at that time, Jesus reached more and more people with God’s message. However, Jesus became dangerous for the powerful. The Romans believed Jesus wanted to take their power. This holiday would be unthinkable if not for…
- his resurrection at Easter,
- Christ’s Ascension, and
- the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Why Do Christians Celebrate Easter?
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after His death. On Easter morning, some women went to Jesus’ tomb to mourn and pay their last respects. But the tomb was empty. Instead, they saw an angel who said to them: “Do not be afraid, Jesus has risen!” The women and all Christians have been joyful about this miracle of God ever since. Jesus also spoke to His disciples. They saw His wounds and knew by this that He had risen from the dead. This gave them the strength to spread the Gospel of love and peace in the world. Christians celebrate Easter every year to remember the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Easter shows us that with faith in God, anything is possible. It is a story full of hope and joy that we can share with our children.
Which Disciple of Jesus Was in Malta?
The christian tradition says that a disciple of Jesus Christ was in Malta. Apostle Paul did not meet Jesus during His lifetime. After his conversion to Christianity, Paul became an important spreader of the Christian doctrine and founded communities in various parts of the Roman Empire. Read about Malta’s history of Apostle Paul and St. Paul’s Island.
What Does Palm Sunday Have to Do with Easter?
As the last Sunday of Lent, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. With blessed palm branches, Christian communities walk through the streets, remembering Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem.
5 Extraordinary Easter Celebrations in Malta
Spring awakens annually at the latest by Easter time in Malta. On Malta’s streets and squares, Holy Week and Easter are lived with great intensity. Passion scenes of Jesus’ death and resurrection, as well as the Last Supper, are depicted in various ways. Tourists from all over the world travel to participate in the traditional rituals, such as the Good Friday processions on the Maltese Islands.
Zebbug on Horseback at the Procession
The procession in Zebbug catches the attention of spectators with Romans on decorated horses. Soldiers in armor, biblical figures, and children with symbolic items are accompanied by the village band and scout groups.
When Is the Procession in Birgu Vittoriosa?
Traditionally, men drag chains at the Good Friday procession. Among the Knights of Saint John, converted slaves to Christianity were allowed to participate in chains in Rabat and Vittoriosa (Il-Birgu). The Passion of Christ is re-enacted with a costume festival during the Easter procession on Easter Sunday.
What Is Easter Like in Qormi?
On the afternoon of Good Friday, a life-sized statue of Jesus is carried through the town by the church in Qormi. The Maltese call the statue of Jesus l-Irxoxt. Some Maltese participate in costumes and robes in the procession. They reenact the Passion of Christ and scenes from the Bible.
How is Easter Celebrated in Mosta?
Mosta is well worth a visit. Built in 1871, the Mosta Rotunda, with its 39-meter diameter dome, is the fourth largest church dome in the world, surpassed only by St. Peter’s Basilica and the Pantheon in Rome and the Florence Cathedral. Following the church service on Maundy Thursday, the Easter tradition involves unveiling the tomb. Subsequently, the faithful partake in a meditative visit to seven churches to pray, a practice known as the seven-church visitation. This tradition is a longstanding part of Christian practices across all Maltese islands on the evening of Maundy Thursday.
What Makes the Easter Celebrations in Il-Xagħra Special?
In the town of Xagħra on Gozo, celebrations occur on various days. Easter Sunday festivities begin at noon with folk singing, dancing, and traditional Maltese cuisine. In the evening, the celebration in honor of Christ starts at 6:00 PM in Xagħra Square. At 7:00 PM, the parade “Jien Issa Haj” commences in the town square.
The Comprehensive Program for Palm Sunday and Easter Week
With 359 churches in Malta, there’s a plethora of parades, processions, and church services. To help you keep track, we’re providing a program guide for the most well-known events, sorted by day and time.
When do the Palm Sunday Processions Begin in Malta and Gozo?
On Palm Sunday, processions occur almost exclusively on Gozo.
- L-Għasri (Gozo) – 08:25
- Il-Munxar (Gozo) – 08:30
- Ix-Xewkija (Gozo) – 08:30
- Ix-Xagħra (Gozo) – 09:15
- Cathedral (Gozo) – 09:30
- In-Nadur (Gozo) – 09:30
- Għajnsielem (Gozo) – 09:45
- L-Għarb (Gozo) – 09:45
- Iż-Żebbuġ (Gozo) – 09:45
- Il-Fontana (Gozo) – 10:00
- San Lawrenz (Gozo) – 10:00
- Ta’Kerċem (Gozo) – 10:15
- San Ġorg, Rabat (Gozo) – 10:30
- Ta’ Sannat (Gozo) – 10:30
- Ghaxaq – 16:30
- Ghaxaq – 17:30 (Part II)
When do the Good Friday Processions Begin?
- San Lawrenz (Gozo) – 15:00
- Iż-Żejtun – 17:00
- Il-Bormla / Cospicua – 17:30
- L-Isla / Senglea – 17:30
- Ħal=Luqa – 17:30
- Il-Mosta – 17:30
- In-Naxxar – 17:30
- Paola – 17:30
- Ħal-Qormi – San Ġorġ – 17:30
- Basilica of St. George, Rabat (Gozo) – 17:30
- Ir-Rabat – 17:30
- Haż-Żebbug – 17:30
- Il-Belt, Valletta – 18:00
- In-Nadur (Gozo) – 18:00
- Ix-Xagħra (Gozo) – 18:00
- Haż-Żebbug (Gozo) – 18:00
- Il-Birgu / Vittoriosa – 19:00
The Processions and Celebrations on Easter Sunday in Malta
- 8:00 – 9:00 Naxxar, Rabat (Gozo)
- 9:00 – 10:00 Bormla, Gharghur, Gzira, Luqa, Paola, Qormi, Rabat, Senglea, Zebbug
- 10:00 – 11:00 Birgu Vittoriosa, Fontana (Gozo), Nadur (Gozo), St. Julians, Zejtun
- 11:00 – 12:00 Quala (Gozo), Rabat (Gozo)
- 17:00 – 18:00 Sliema, Zebbug (Gozo)
- 18:00 – 19:00 Birkirkara, Birzebbugia, Gharb (Gozo), Kalkara, Mosta, Valletta, Il-Xaghra (Gozo)
FAQs – Your Questions About Easter in Malta Answered!
What's the Weather Like in Malta at Easter?
Predictions are tricky, especially about the future. Expect sunshine, no rain, a bit of wind, and temperatures between 15 and 21 degrees Celsius. Swimming in the Mediterranean is already possible.
Is Easter a Public Holiday in Malta?
Good Friday and Easter Sunday are public holidays in Malta. Easter Monday is a regular working day. Maundy Thursday, known for the seven-church visitation, is also not an official holiday.
When is Easter in Malta 2024?
Easter celebrations in Malta begin on Friday, 9 days before Easter Sunday, with processions in some villages and towns. This day honors Our Lady of Sorrows. The Easter period ends on Easter Sunday.
- 24.03.2024 Palm Sunday
- 28.03.2024 Maundy Thursday
- 29.03.2024 Good Friday
- 31.03.2024 Easter Sunday
Are Shops Open Over Easter?
Good Friday: Supermarkets like Greens Supermarket, Welbee’s Supermarket, Spar, and Lidl are closed. Some small shops, especially in tourist areas, are open for limited hours.
Easter Sunday: Lidl is closed, but other supermarkets are open. Many small shops, especially in tourist areas, are open.
Easter Monday: All shops are open, as Easter Monday is not a public holiday in Malta.
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What Event Do Christians Celebrate at Easter?
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his death. Therefore, Easter is a story full of hope and joy.
What Is Celebrated on Good Friday?
Possibly the most important religious holiday for Christians is Good Friday. On this day, Jesus Christ died on the cross. The Crucifixion is a sign of God's love, His grace, and redemption. Christians believe that Jesus died for people nearly 2000 years ago.
Who Is l-Irxoxt?
The statue of Jesus, carried through many towns and villages of Malta and Gozo during the Good Friday processions, is called l-Irxoxt.
When Do Easter Celebrations Begin in Malta?
The celebrations begin on the Friday before Good Friday, which is 8 days before Easter Sunday.
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