If you decided to visit the Island of Gozo for your summer holiday, beaches are not the only thing that beckon! Experiencing at least one village feast is a must if you are in Gozo during summer.

Each village holds its annual feast dedicated to a different Patron Saint on a different week and the feast reaches its peak during the weekend. This is a Catholic tradition and the celebrations take place both inside the village church and outside. Churches are adorned with rich damask and elaborate embroidered and ornate pieces. Outside, the village streets are decorated with lights, banners and festoons. Statues of saints are mounted on decorated pedestals outside the church and in the main streets. All in all, the atmosphere is a festive one!

Feasts are mostly celebrated in the evening although some villages have traditional band marches even in the late morning. Visitors can enjoy the band marches played by the brass bands in the streets and the merriment that is part of these events. You can also try out traditional food from the street stalls, such as pastizzi (a savoury type of snack made from flaky pastry and filled up with ricotta or mushy peas), qubbajt (Maltese nougat) and imqaret (a sweet type of fried snack made from pastry with a filling of dates). One cannot miss out the firework displays that light up the Gozitan skies during the feasts. In many villages there are also traditional horse races.

One can say that it’s hard to choose among all the Gozitan feasts, but one of the most popular is the Feast of the Assumption, that is held on the 15th August.

Take also note of the village feast held in Xaghra. The feast which is always celebrated on the 8th of September (another public holiday in Malta and Gozo), is dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. As the feast takes place in Xaghra, you can enjoy beautiful views right from Abraham’s Farmhouses that are located in the same village. It will be almost like being a local and it’s an unforgettable experience of food, drink, music and fun.

If you would love to attend one of the numerous feasts in Gozo and enjoy your holiday in the sun, an apartment or a farmhouse rental is the ideal choice of accommodation. Choosing Abraham’s Farmhouses is a guarantee of  a holiday in luxury and comfort.