Every year on the 29th June, Malta celebrated L-Imnarja, one of the island's oldest and most cherished festivals. Rooted in faith, agriculture and community, it remains a vibrant expression of Malta's rural heritage and national identity.
Celebrated in honour of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, L-Imnarja blends religious devotion with centuries-old traditions, bringing together folklore, music, food and rural life in a uniquely Maltese way.
The origins of the feast can be traced back to the rule of the Knights of St. John, when the bastions surrounding Mdina were illuminated with traditional fjakkoli (torches) to mark the occasion. Over time, the celebration evolved into a Christian harvest festival deeply connected to village life and agricultural traditions.
Such was its importance that centuries ago, Maltese marriage contracts often stipulated that a groom was obliged to accompany his bride to the festivities during the first year of marriage.
The celebrations begin on the evening of 28th June at Buskett Gardens, one of Malta's few woodland areas. Once a private hunting reserve of the Knights of St. John, Buskett becomes an open-air celebration of Maltese heritage.
The atmosphere is animated by the sounds of għana, Malta's traditional folk singing, performed by għannejja accompanied by acoustic guitars. Agricultural exhibitions showcase the island's finest seasonal produce, while local farmers and herdsmen proudly present livestock, poultry and rabbits in competitions that celebrate excellence in local farming.
No Imnarja celebration is complete without a traditional fenkata. Shared among family and friends beneath the trees of Buskett, stewed or fried rabbit remains the culinary highlight of the festivities.
Food stalls offer a variety of Maltese favourites, including bigilla, pastizzi and qagħaq ta' l-għasel, often enjoyed alongside local wines.
The festivities are set in motion days earlier through Il-Bandu ta' l-Imnarja, a historic re-enactment organised by the Agrarian Society of Malta. The event includes a solemn mass at St Paul's Cathedral in Mdina, the blessing of trophies and a ceremonial procession through the city's historic streets. The festival reaches its climax on the afternoon of 29th June along Saqqajja Hill, just outside Mdina. Here, spectators gather to watch traditional bareback horse and donkey races, a competitive tradition dating back to the fifteenth century. Victors are awarded the prestigious Palju, an ornate silk banner that symbolises honour, pride and achievement.
More Than a Feast
L-Imnarja is far more than a day of food and festivities. It preserves traditions that have shaped Maltese life for centuries while honouring the farming communities that continue to sustain the islands.
As generations gather beneath the trees of Buskett and along the streets surrounding Mdina, the festival serves as a powerful reminder of Malta's enduring connection to its land, heritage and people. In a rapidly changing world, L-Imnarja remains a living celebration of the values, traditions and sense of community that continue to define the Maltese identity.
Francesca Marija-Anne Gauci
Junior Administrative Assistant
