EU ACCESSION CELEBRATIONS PROGRAMME SATURDAY, 1ST MAY
Commemorative Stamp Issue
Maltapost plc open their stalls to buyers of the Commemorative Stamp Issue.
The following Maltapost branches will be open from 08.00 to 11.30 hrs: Valletta (Castille), BKara, Paola, Rabat (Malta) and Victoria (Gozo).
Street Festival at South Street, Valletta
Organised under the auspices of the South Street Business Community, for four consecutive Saturdays, South Street, Valletta will, for the third time round, be closed to traffic and transformed into a lively venue featuring street art, gastronomic delights, children’s games and many other activities of popular appeal.
The activity, that has already proved to be a popular event for young and old, starts at 10.00 hrs and continues up till 13.00 hrs.
South Street, Valletta
His Grace the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Malta will preside over the celebration of a Pontifical High Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta.
10.00 hrs Guests start arriving at the Co-Cathedral
10.10 hrs Guard of Honour of the Armed Forces of Malta accompanied by the AFM Band march off from near the Phoenicia Hotel down Republic Street to St John’s Square
Guard of Honour and Band of the Armed Forces of Malta take their position in front of St John’s Co-Cathedral
10.12 hrs His Grace the Metropolitan Archbishop, Mons Joseph Mercieca arrives at St John’s Co-Cathedral via St John’s Street where he is met by the President of the EU Accession Celebrations Organising Committee
10.19 hrs Commander Armed Forces of Malta, Brigadier Carmelo Vassallo accompanied by Mrs Vassallo arrive at St John’s Square via Republic Street
They are greeted by the President of the EU Accession Celebrations Organising Committee
Commander AFM takes the dais and is accorded a ‘General Salute Present Arms’ by the Guard of Honour
10.22 hrs Escorted by Police motorcycles the Acting Prime Minister, Dr Tonio Borg, accompanied by Mrs Borg arrive at St John’s Square via Republic Street
The Acting Prime Minister and Mrs Borg are greeted by Commander Armed Forces of Malta who accompanies the Acting Prime Minister to the dais.
Playing of 1st eight bars of the National Anthem
The Acting Prime Minister and Mrs Borg are escorted to their place in the Co-Cathedral by the President of the EU Accession Celebrations Committee
10.25 hrs Escorted by Police motorcycles H. E. the President accompanied by Mrs Fenech Adami arrive at St John’s Square via Republic Street
H. E. the President and Mrs Fenech Adami are greeted by Commander Armed Forces who accompanies the President to the dais
Playing of the National Anthem
The President inspects the Guard of Honour
H. E. the President and Mrs Fenech Adami are escorted to their place in the Co-Cathedral by the President of the EU Accession Celebrations Committee
10.30 hrs H. G. the Metropolitan Archbishop leads the procession of celebrants and Co-Cathedral Chapter to the main altar.
Pontifical High Mass is celebrated
Noon Day Gun Salute
The Minister for Tourism and Culture, the Hon Dr Francis Zammit Dimech inaugurates the Saluting Battery Re-enactment Initiative by the Malta Tourism Authority.
During the same ceremony the Noon Day Gun, restored through the initiative of the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and placed back in its original location at the Saluting Battery will fire a Salute at noon.
The Noon Day Gun Re-enactment will be repeated every day at noon up to May 9, 2004.
11.45 hrs at the Saluting Battery, Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta
Caravaggio – ‘La Mostra Impossibile’
The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Dr Francis Zammit Dimech inaugurates the exhibition “Caravaggio – ‘La Mostra Impossibile’ produced by the Italian state radio and television network, RAI and brought to Malta on the initiative of the newly set up Caravaggio Foundation with the support of the Ministry for Tourism and Culture.
The exhibition will remain open for viewing up to 30th June, 2004 on every day, except Mondays from 11.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs.
19.00 hrs at Caraffa Stores, Birgu Waterfront, Birgu
GOZO
EU Accession Celebrations in Gozo
18.30 Start of defile’ from lower Republic Street, Victoria featuring school children and 10 bands from Gozo.
Street entertainment en route will be provided by the participation of the 60 strong Misterbianco (Sicily) Carnival Troupe “I piu belli costumi d’Italia”.
19.30 School children enter Independence Square, Victoria and proceed to main stage. School children will assemble in choir and sing merry Gozo-related songs.
19.45 10 bands – grouped in 3 mass bands – march along upper Republic Street (alongside Independence Square) playing a selection of local music.
20.45 Commencement of evening entertainment on main stage, featuring Gozo Youth Wind Band and Orchestra (20 mins), Gozo School of Drama (10 mins), Body Art Dance Group (15 mins), The Mill Room Studio (15 mins) and Yada (30 min).
22.15 Air Fireworks display
22.30 Commencement of Street Party: DJ line-up playing from main stage
When we think about Carnival, masks, toy trumpets and the Brazilian samba come to mind. When we think about Misterbiancos Carnival we imagine rich and multicoloured costumes made by artists. Since 2002 the Misterbianco Carnival isnt just a winter celebration. It would be a pity to waste all that labour and all that efforts made by tailors and craftsmen in creating such multicoloured masterpieces for only a few cold days of winter. Some of those creations are refined into manufactured models and seem like miniature carts. Therefore it was decided that instead putting those mask creations into mothballs on Ash Wednesday they could get a breath of air to be worn again by cheerful guys and girls.
The Misterbianco Carnival will be in Malta during the EU Accession Celebrations being held in Malta. In fact a 60 strong representative troop from the Misterbianco 2004 Carnival will arrive in Malta on April 30, 2004 and will give two representations, the first in Victoria (Gozo), during the festivities being held there in the afternoon of May 1. The second in Republic Street, Valletta on Monday, May 3, 2004.
The defile in Gozo will start at 18.30 hrs (6.30 pm) on Saturday, May 1, 2004. The defile in Malta will take place on Sunday, May 2, 2004 starting at 17.30 hrs (5.30 pm) with a repeat defile on Monday, May 3, 2004 at 10.00 hrs (10.00 am) along Republic Street, Valletta.
This is a great opportunity for us to admire the Carnival of the most beautiful costumes (Il Carnevale dei piu bei costumi di Sicilia) and to see the typical masks of the gloomy February as part of these bright celebrations. It will be an opportunity to see out of season, what we are used to admiring in February. A parade for all the seasons to avoid putting the most beautiful costumes of Sicily (and not only Sicily) away.
Misterbiancos Carnival has during the last two years left Sicilian boarders to arrive in Ancona and in Venice. This year the Misterbianco Carnival will be leaving Sicilian boarders and shores and will be exported to Malta. We will be able to appreciate the fantasy, creativity and elegance of the Misterbianco Carnival.
DOI 29.04.2004
