File:MALTESE TRADITIONS - REGATTA (2840132441).jpg

The Maltese especially those living around the Grand Harbour love their boats and throughout the years they held boat races as part of the festivities of their parish. One of the main ones was that of Senglea whose patron saint is Our Lady of Victories. The regatta had been held since the seventeenth century, during the time of the Order the harbour was a hub of activity and as such the races were more colourful and competitive. During the British period the races continued but it was only in the 1950’s that some semblance of uniformity was established. The real Regatta as we know it today began in 1951 commemorating not only the Great Siege but also the horrendous Second World War which battered Malta continuously by Nazi and Fascist forces. According to local folklore experts the harbour sides would be full of people waving different coloured flags according to the city they supported. The enthusiasm was great and hundreds thronged the Grand Harbour to watch the event which was run by the Customs Department. It is usually a colourful event but sometimes marred by excessive rivalry. When the Grand Harbour lost much of its local ferrying service and most of the produce was landed directly on to the quay, the rowers who were usually employed as ‘barklori’ had all the training they needed but now that the way of life in the harbour changed the crews have to train all year round especially between March and September when the two regattas are held. The different boats were given different colours which they still keep today. The boats were also painted in the same colours of the flags waved by the onlookers. The Senglean colours are – red & yellow; Marsa – blue & red; Marsamxetto – dark blue & yellow; Bormla - light blue; Birgu – red; Kalkara – green and Birzebbugia – light blue, white red and again light blue. Different types of boats participate from the sleek and fast kajjik, fregatina fast boat and very common in Malta, bigger boats like lanec and other seacraft. The enthusiasm when the races start is something not to be forgotten with fireworks being let off from Senglea Point, singing and general merriment. All the races have special appellatives such as: Tal Midalji, tal-Erbgha, tal-pass u ohrajn. The winners would then be presented with the Palju (a long and narrow flag dating from medieval times). Today this traditional sign of victory is coupled with medals, trophies and the much looked for “Aggregate Shield”. The Palju etc were presented by the British Governor’s wife as up to 1964 Malta had been a British, nowadays it is presented by a Government official such as the President of the Republic, Prime Minister or some other high official deputizing for the higher authorities. The shield is kept by the winning locality for a year and then handed over to the winner of the following event. Nowadays the Regatta is held on the 8th September and 31st March. This year’s winner was won by Senglea for the nineteenth time.