Going, going, and at €10,500, gone!

The sum was the winning bid at the Mgarr festa this morning for the honour of carrying the 450-kilogramme statue of Our Lady of the Assumption during festa procession.

Several men bid for the honour. Last year’s winning bid was €8,100.

All the proceeds go towards the parish’s needs.

The bidding tradition dates back to 1922 when the Mġarr parish priest bought the statue.

He had been so overwhelmed with requests to carry it that he decided to give the honour to those who made the biggest donation. Only people who live in Mġarr can take part.

The statue was made in Marseille and cost £60 and 16 shillings. It was restored twice: in 2009 and in 1958 when the skin colour and the other hues including the drapery were changed.

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