Have you decided to practice the language of Shakespeare somewhere other thanEngland,Ireland,Scotland, Canada, or the United States? From today, Sunday, June 28, 2015, through tomorrow, Malta is truly the place to be! Why? Because locals and visitors alike are getting ready to celebrate Mnarja, a one-of-a-kind festival… Here’s a closer look at two days of colorful festivities during your language study trip to Malta with LEC.
Saint Paul and Saint Peter in the Spotlight
Mnarja, a traditional festival that you may have the chance to experience if you are currently on a language study trip in Malta, is a tradition that traces its roots back to the Roman Luminaria and coincides with the feast days of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, two of the most important biblical figures in Christian tradition.
From the Jardins du Bosquet…
Mnarja, also known as l-Imnarja (pronounced Lim-nar-ya during your language study trip to Malta) is the quintessential folk festival. This celebration for young and old alike begins in the evening. In the Bosquet Gardens (known as Buskett Gardens in English), the only remaining natural woodland area on the Maltese archipelago, families gather under the tall trees to share a picnic where the only rule is to have a good time. There, they enjoy the traditional fenkata, a rabbit stew served with spaghetti, and let ourselves be lulled by the ghana, the archipelago’s traditional music.
… in Rabat
In other towns across the archipelago, such as Rabat, not far from Mdina, locals and tourists alike gather to watch a parade of horses, donkeys, and mules. In the past, this parade was presided over by the Grand Master of the Order of Malta.
What about games of joy?
Finally, the bonfires—an integral part of the celebration—are not to be missed. In fact, the word “Mnarja” is a corruption of “Luminarja,” which itself means… light !