From shells to serpentines, passing to pistils and palms, not forgetting about the rounds and rings… and much much more. It is our Maltese characteristic that in our local traditional feast, we include the local bands, decorations and, without any doubt, the fireworks. We can say that if one of these three factors misses out, especially from the external celebrations, the feast will loose some of its value and beauty. But the difference is that while the band and decorations are more linked to the external celebrations, the fireworks accompany both external and internal celebrations. Internal celebrations are those celebrations which are held in the church while the external ones are those celebrated in the streets. This is why we must appreciate and take care of everything that we have.
There always has been fireworks’ dilettante in our village. Also we can be proud that we have one of the best places from where the fireworks can be burnt, and it can be enjoyed from all parts of the village, especially from the village square: a factor that not all villages can be proud of. In our village, we have never had a room to make our own fireworks. This can present both an advantage and disadvantage. Unfortunately, we have heard many times bad news because of a mishap, and even fatal ones, because of these fireworks’ rooms. For several times, our fireworks have suffered cause of these incidents. On the other hand for this danger, we must pay a high price for it. You must have large amounts of fireworks, to organize a fireworks’ program and distribute throughout the whole week, and this costs lots of money.
The first shell of the feast derives in everyone the joy and enthusiasm that the feast brings with it. There is nothing left on the day after the feast, but everyone would be satisfied with what he saw on the week of the feast. Therefore we must feel the importance that we must contribute to the costs of the fireworks. As a committee we prefer that we continue to buy the fireworks and we know that most of the people agree with us. We also know that you were always generous with us and we must invoke that you continue to do so, so that we will never feel the need of making a fireworks’ room and we minimize as possible every danger for us and our children.
This brings another disadvantage for us. We must order the firework from just few days after the past feast, so that they have about a year to work on it. Also most of you give us your generous donations just before the feast so this may takes us till the last days of the feast to clear all the costs. From our side, to reduce this problem, we organize activities throughout the whole year so that we can collect the money needed. We must keep encouraging you to attend more to these activities and so that you will enjoy your own money during the feast.
We have always made the best fireworks possible. In most occasions, everyone felt jealous for us and other villages ended up by copying our shows and ideas, so that these became national activities. In our minds we do not have this same concept because we do not want to irritate other people. The last weekend of August is ours and nobody can dare to move it. Those who tried in the past to make us fight between us, did not succeed and in the end it was themselves who broke up. We must encourage you, that together with you donations, if you have any doubts, ask us about anything and you will be satisfied immediately.
We must thank everybody. Encourage us and together we must continue to pray for the Holy Mary of Loreto so that She takes care of us at all times.
10TH DECEMBER FIREWORKS COMMITTEE
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