Malta has a strong Christian tradition that dates back to AD60 when St Paul was shipwrecked on the island.
Despite influence from Islam, Catholicism has retained a massive monopoly on Maltese spirituality with over 87% of the population regularly attending Mass. This dominant belief system continues to influence many other aspects of Maltese life including political, economic and social issues.
Christian festivals form the backbone of Malta's community events with parties springing up in every village to celebrate their patron saints. These joyous occasions feature parades and barbeques, spectacular firework displays and merrymaking into the early hours. Inter-parish rivalries ensure that every effort is made to mount more extravagant festivities than their neighbouring revellers.
Day to day reminders of this central faith are evident in the profusion of street shrines that dot the highways and byways of the island. Often loud and garishly coloured they present a constant reminder of the local religious conviction.
