Five-stamp set on folk festivals

A set of five stamps showing Maltese festivals as depicted in scenes painted by well-known Maltese and foreign artists will be issued by the philatelic bureau of Maltapost plc today.

In Malta, folk festivals are the most prominent element of the country's rich folklore heritage. Basically religious in origin, they are usually widely embellished by popular customs and traditions. Folk festivals are held practically in all the seasons of the year and are much sought after by both the local population and tourists. They have been with us for hundreds of years and their popularity helps very much in preserving them for future generations.

The stamp face values are 5c, 15c, 27c, 51c and Lm1 and come in a size of 44.0mm x 31.0mm, with a perforation of 14.0 x 13.9.

The 5c stamp shows the feast of Lapsi (Ascension Day) in a painting by Luigi Brockdorff, depicting children on an improvised swing. Lapsi, derived from the Greek word Analepsis, brings along with it many childhood recollections of see-saws and swings across doorways and beneath carob trees. Many Maltese wear summer clothes for the first time on this day and Gozitans have their first swim on this occasion.

The 15c stamp shows Hadd in-Nies in a painting by Italo Horatio Serge showing the first Sunday in Lent pilgrimage in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, in Zabbar. Hadd in-Nies, the People's Sunday, falls on the first Sunday in Lent and thousands of people from all walks of life take part in this religious pilgrimage, with the penitentiary Cross at the head of the congregation carried by the Archbishop of Malta.

The popular feast of San Girgor is depicted on the 27c stamp through an old photograph from the Tony Terribile collection, showing part of the votive penitentiary general procession held at Zejtun on the first Wednesday after Easter. This procession originated in thanksgiving for the deliverance of Malta from some plague, malady or disaster. After the procession the crowds still traditionally proceed to Marsaxlokk Bay for a feast of traditional food and have their first dip in the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean.

Michele Bellanti's lithograph of San Martin is portrayed in the 51c stamp, showing children with St Martin's bagful of nuts, almonds and figs. San Martin is another Maltese festival and falls on November 11, when the weather is usually calm and sunny. This period of the year is also known as St Martin's summer. Maltese children are traditionally given a small bag containing nuts, almonds, chestnuts, hazelnuts and figs.

The Lm1 stamp in the set depicts Mnarja and shows details from a painting by Antoine Favray with Maltese peasants in traditional costume singing and dancing to folk music. Mnarja, the feast of St Peter and St Paul, is held on June 29 but the folk festivities are held at Buskett gardens on the eve. People gather and spend the night eating traditional food and listening to folk singing. Traditional horse races are held at Saqqajja hill, in Rabat on the feast day.

The set, which has been offset printed in Malta by Printex Limited on Maltese Crosses watermarked paper, is designed by stamp designer Francis X. Ancilleri.

The set is available from all branch post offices in Malta and Gozo and from the Maltapost mobile unit as a first day cover, in mint or cancelled formats and as a souvenir folder and presentation pack.

Additional details may be obtained from the philatelic bureau on telephone 2123 9153 (fax 2122 0789).