Monthly Archives: May 2014

Mnarja: A traditional Folk Festival in Malta

Malta is renowned for its traditional feasts and celebrations. One of the yearly festival which is well known with Maltese and foreigners alike is the Mnarja Festival.

The Imnarja festival is held on the 28th and 29th of June yearly. During this festival you can experience various archaic Maltese customs and traditions. The name for this very popular Maltese festival is believed to have originated from the corruption of the Italian word “luminaria” which means illuminations. This refers to the bonfires that used to be lit up in Rabat, Malta during the festival traditions. (Imnarja can also be spelt Mnarja). The 29th of June is also the feast day of St Peter and St Paul, and the Mnarja festival is heavily linked to this feast. The origins of this festival date back to before the occupation of the Knights of Malta!

Imnarja Festival at a glance
The festival starts on the 28th of June in Buskett Gardens. The atmosphere in Buskett is that of a huge and never ending party, with folk music and traditional singing (ghana), dancing and plenty of food and drink. The main dish served during the event is rabbit stew. In fact, rabbit is consumed in abundance during the Mnarja festival. To wash down the food, plenty of excellent local wine is available. The festivities go on until the early hours of the following morning! In the past, there was a custom that when a couple got married, the groom promised his bride that he would take her to the Mnarja evening celebrations after they got married.

The following day, i.e. the 29th of June, is a public holiday in Malta and Gozo. On the 29th, the festival continues at Buskett Gardens. This time though, it is more of an agricultural show where you can see lots of farmers proudly exhibiting their fresh produce. In the afternoon, the attention is switched to the Telgha tas-Saqqajja in Rabat (Saqqajja Hill) where bareback horse and donkey races are held. Thousands gather to watch these races each year. The winner of the race is awarded a colourful brocade banner.

The Imnarja festival is a huge sociable and family affair where families and friends meet and celebrate day and night in Buskett Gardens, which is the largest natural woodland in Malta.

The Grand Hotel Excelsior offers you great ideas on what to do in Malta during your upcoming holidays. Visit this superior 5 star hotel in Malta‘s website and stay updated with events taking place around Malta.

Some tips to reduce your daily stress

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Would you like to get through the day without feeling completely worn out? Here are some tips that will help you cope with the daily fatigue:

Drink warm lemon water

warm lemon water

After a good night’s sleep kick off the day with a nice warm drink to jump start your system and start hydrating your body once again. By adding lemon to the hot water this will activate your digestive system.

Stay active – move around

move

Would you like to feel alive and full of energy? Start with a stretch and then go for a run/walk or simply embark on an enjoyable exercise routine. By doing some movement first thing in the morning you will feel more energetic, be less stressed and will thus clear your mind in preparation for the day ahead.

Think positively

By thinking positive and looking forward to the day’s activities you will pave the way. If you think of a positive statement or spend a couple of minutes in stillness you will lift your mood and put a smile on your face.

Create a To-do list

Create an actionable to do list for the week ahead and assign tasks for each day, with each task assigned to the day of the week you are most likely to perform it. Then put the day’s tasks according to the order of the day and level of importance, i.e. when during the day you will be carrying out the task. Consult your list every morning and evaluate the tasks’ importance.

Eat A Healthy Breakfast

Healthy-Breakfast

If you are hungry you will think and perform less well and you will also be less fun to be with. Besides breakfast is the most important meal of the day as it breaks the fasting of the night and starts your metabolism. So go ahead, start your day with a healthy breakfast.

If you would like some more tips on leading a healthy lifestyle and enjoying some stress-free therapy contact Our Le Grand Spa Team at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta and they will guide you in selecting a great rejuvenating massage.

My favourite spot in Malta

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Excelsior Hotel Malta Views

From its position on Malta’s most breathtaking waterfront, the Grand Hotel Excelsior Malta is a truly memorable property, both in terms of the beautiful setting and the luxuriousness of the hotel itself. A few minutes walk from the centre of Malta’s capital city, Valletta, the hotel manages to be both a relaxed beach resort and a city centre hotel within easy reach of a picturesque 16th century walled town filled with priceless architecture, culture and art. It is the ideal blend for those who are looking to experience the very best that this part of the island has to offer.

Ideal Location – near Valletta

The superior 5 star hotel in Malta is perfect for exploring Valletta (designated the European Capital city of culture 2018), from taking in the sights and sounds of the traditional markets, to attractions like the National Museum of Fine Arts, the Malta Experience and the St. John’s Co-Cathedral and St. John’s Museum, which are only a short walk away. Many of Malta’s most historic spots including the Grand Master’s Palace and the Fort St. Elmo are equally as accessible and the hotel affords stunning views out over Marsamxett Harbour and Manoel Island, as well as being ideally located for exploring the rest of the island.

Superior rooms for your holiday

The carefully designed rooms in the hotel blend the classic and contemporary, incorporating uncompromising five-star features with all the modern convenience that you would expect from such a luxe establishment. The views are particularly breathtaking – The Deluxe Partial Sea View Rooms offer 90-degree views of Marsamxett Harbour and Manoel Island and for an especially spectacular vista, the views from the Deluxe Seafront Rooms extend an impressive 180 degrees.

5 star facilities and service

The hotel itself is a VIP experience from start to finish and, as a result, has hosted everyone from royalty to international celebrities within its walls. The broad range of facilities cements this status–here you will find everything from a private sandy beach to award winning chefs producing mouthwatering dishes at the hotel’s numerous dining establishments, such as the Tiki Bar & Restaurant and the Spice Island Restaurant. Le Grand Spa is an onsite haven of pampering – the exclusive Thai Maharlika treatment is particularly worth trying – and there are large indoor and outdoor pools within the grounds, a private 30-berth marina and a number of sophisticated bars in which to enjoy a cool sunset drink whilst enjoying the spectacular views from the elegant hotel grounds.

If you would like to experience a unique holiday in Malta this luxury 5 star hotel in Malta offers you a combination of leisure, history and culture. Contact us for more ideas on where to go in Malta during your next visit.

Alexandra Pett, Worldwide Independent Travel Network.