Belling the festive cat

What is common between our police force and the College of parish priests? Both are exasperated at village feasts. The police and Church authorities said this very clearly during a recent seminar held to discuss the subject. During the seminar, participants also discussed what steps should be taken to humanise, if not Christianise, our feast.

I am not a festa lover, but neither am I a festa basher. Village feasts are an important part of our culture. They form part of the product we offer the tourists who visit us and are a plus for business.

Their celebration is used in the publicity campaigns of the tourist organisations.

Feasts provide good fun for thousands, especially during the summer season. Between May and September about 90 such feasts are celebrated. Another positive aspect of village feasts is the number of volunteers who work to make them a success. The National Statistics Organisation estimates that about 1,000 persons are in one way or another involved in the celebration of these feasts.

Feasts give space to the pyrotechnic community's artistic abilities. The clear summer skies provide an enormous screen on which to enjoy the beautiful fireworks. Unfortunately, this beauty is marred by the number of deaths and accidents associated with fireworks. Our rate of accidents is among the highest in the Mediterranean, and one fifth of victims are under 16.

Feasts have all these dimensions and perhaps more. Many stakeholders are responsible for organising some aspect or other of these celebrations. It is in this wider scenario that one has to look at village feasts while underlining the basic truth that feasts first and foremost are, or rather should be, a religious celebration in honour of the patron saint of a parish.

During the seminar, the Church authorities showed their determination to continue striving so that feasts retain their religious character.

In recent years, the Church has taken a number of measures to curb abuse. Examples of unruly behaviour mentioned included public displays of painted, bare-chested people, vulgar behaviour, alcohol and drug use.

Such indecencies do not happen during Carnival but during feasts in honour of saints. Isn't this incredible? There were some parish priests who had to flee from their parishes because of what happened during their parish feast. There were occasions when feasts were suspended.

This situation demands radical action. The attitude that is being taken - to try to get around the same table as many different stakeholders as possible - is a wise one.

But what is more important is that Church authorities continue to apply and increase the pressure it has applied during recent years.

The Church's attempt to bell the festive cat should be supported by all.