Ever since the beginning of the 18th Century, Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua have been organising Good Friday processions with statuary groups representing the main episodes of the Passion and Death of Christ. Some of these groups include figures in full costume.
Originally Vittoriosa used to hold three processions during Holy Week. On Ash Wednesday, another proceeded from the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with a statuary group representing the Crucifixion. Participating in this procession would have been crews of the Order’s Galleys, baptised slaves, and the forzati – convicted persons condemned to wear a chain. The latter group could be the origin of the still surviving practice of penitents dragging an iron chain at each heel in the Good Friday procession.
Other processions were held on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. In the latter a set of statuaries representing episodes of Christ’s Passion were carried in a procession in which the City’s main officials including the giurati also took part.
Holy Week is very devotedly practiced in Cottonera. Pageants and displays are held on Maundy Thursday in Cospicua while Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua alike still hold the Good Friday processions. |
