Gozitans are biggest spenders on feasts

Over Lm156,000, or almost 25 per cent of the total sum, were spent on village feasts in Gozo last year, the highest expenditure recorded by any district in the Maltese islands.

In 2003, there were a total of 309 band performances at parish feasts. Of these, 84, or 27.2 per cent, were by bands from the same locality. A further 225 were performed by bands from another locality, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office.

The total number of non-religious persons sitting on parish feast organising committees last year stood at 2,844, a drop of 488, or 14.6 per cent, over 2002. More than one third - 969 persons - were women. In 2003, their presence on these groups declined by 16.4 per cent over 2002. The number of religious persons on the same organising committees reached 326, only 12 of whom were female.

The number of non-religious persons participating in parish feast processions stood at 6,892, an 8.2 percentage decrease of 614 persons over 2002. Participation in feast processions is predominantly male; in 2003, men accounted for 4,776, or 69 per cent, of all non-religious procession participants. In the same year, 2,116 women actively participated in feast processions; a decrease of 14.5 per cent over 2002.

Expenditure on parish feasts has risen. In the year under review, total parish outlay on feasts went up from Lm606,595 in 2002 to Lm631,075. Expenditure on parish feasts in Gozo stood at Lm156,802, or 24.8 per cent of the total recorded parish feasts expenditure.

Of the Malta-related expenditure in 2003, Lm153,287 were spent in the southern harbour district (Valletta, Floriana, Marsa, Cottonera and the surrounding towns) and Lm133,010 in the northern harbour district (Qormi, Birkirkara, Gzira, Hamrun, Msida, Pembroke, Pietà, St Julians, San Gwann, Santa Venera, Sliema, Swieqi and Ta' Xbiex).

A total of Lm74,619 were spent in the south eastern district (Zejtun, Birzebbuga, Gudja, Ghaxaq, Kirkop, Marascala, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi, Zurrieq), followed by the northern district (Gharghur, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mosta, Naxxar and St Paul's Bay) with Lm56,979 and the western district (Mdina, Zebbug (Malta), Siggiewi, Attard, Balzan, Dingli, Iklin, Lija, Rabat and Mtarfa) with Lm56,378.

Expenditure is recorded at its highest level in the Gozo and Comino district, followed by the Malta southern harbour district.

At Lm239,756 - 38 per cent of all parish feast outlay - outdoor activities claimed the lion's share of expenditure in 2003. A 20.1 percentage share spent on street decorations rated second, followed by expenditure on orchestras and choirs, with 10.5 per cent.

In 2003, the surveyed parish feasts registered a total income of Lm601,757, an increase of less than one per cent over 2002. The bulk of this - 53.1 per cent - emanated from donations for the feast, followed by fund-raising activities, which generated 25.6 per cent of total income.