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At the time of the Knights what did the leisure pursuits of the Maltese depend on?

Their social class

During the time of the Knights, what were the national festivities, and who were they practiced by?

Practiced by both Maltese & Knights

• Carnival

• The Regatta

• The Eve of St John the Baptist

• St Peter and St Paul

• Christmas

• Easter

• Pentecost

• Corpus Christi

Carnival

• Celebrated in Valletta (3 days before lent) with face masks and costumes similar to the Italian carnival

• Celebrated by all social classes

The Regatta

• Celebrated on 8th September

• Rowing race

• Commemorated the victory of the Great Seige

• Popular activity for the people living around the Grand Harbour

• Rowing teams → Birgu, Bormla, Senglea, Kalkara, Marsa

• Grand Master would attend (big thing)

St. John the Baptist

• The eve of St. John the Baptist’s day was celebrated most (23rd June)

• Bonfires lit in Valletta and village squares

• St. John the Baptist = patron saint to the Order of the Knights

• Mostly celebrated by village people

• On the actual St. John the Baptist’s day (24th June) there was a procession from St. Johns Conventual Church

St. Peter and St. Paul

• L-imnarja

• 29th June

• Celebrated at Buskett Gardens

• With food, ghana, folk dancing and horse races

• All social classes

• Grand Master attended

During the time of the Knights, what were the family festivities, and who were they practiced by?

• Only practiced by Maltese

• Baptism

• Wedding

Baptism

• Celebration of newborn baby in family

• Practiced by upper classes of society

Weddings

• Size depended on financial resources of bride and groom