Socio-political and economic aspects in the history of religious 'festa' groups in Malta, 1890-1940

Abstract

This work discusses the development of religious festa groups in Malta between 1890 and 1940. It tries to analyze these developments into a socio-political and economic framework. The term festa religious groups is used in order to include confraternities, social clubs, band clubs and other organizations which during one time or another organized religious feasts. The general approach of this thesis is geared towards identifying certain organizational trends rather than listing too many details of the glorious and dull days of each and every organization. Chapter 2 tries to identify the main festa promoters. The influence which these festa promoters had on the development of patronage and political parties and vice-versa is discussed. In another chapter, five villages (Zurrieq, Luqa, Mqabba, Qrendi and Kirkop) are studied as a region. The regional analysis may be seen also to serve usefully for comparative purposes with other areas in Malta such us Rabat and Valletta. The final chapter delves into the economic contribution which mutual help societies made to the community. Statutes of mutual help societies functioning within band clubs and their financial records are analyzed to help give a picture of the economic and social contribution which these organizations made. This thesis also discusses the relations of religious festa groups to local and national politics. It also sees the development of organizations such as confraternities, mutual help societies and band clubs as evolving institutions. It refutes some established theories about the development of festa rivalry in Malta. One such theory was the idea first put forward by Robert Mifsud Bonnici and which attributed the development of rivalry between different clubs to rivalry between the followers of Mro Paula Nani and Mro Vincenzo Bugeja. Other alterative hypothesis are put forward in this dissertation. This work also discusses in depth most of the conclusions arrived at Jeremy Boissevain and tries to support or criticise his conclusions by historical evidence. In most festa developments one form of organization gave way to another in a continuous process of change. The establishment of band clubs weakened the activity of most confraternities. Mutual help societies within band clubs catered for a multitude of socio-religious needs which previously were catered tor by confraternities. The socio-political and economic aspects of mutual help societies which were established within band clubs are studied in the chapter 5 of this thesis. Statutes of mutual help societies are also included in the appendices in order as to give a clear idea as to the manner in which these organizations developed and their role in festa rivalry. Finally, this thesis studies ltalian and British influences on the growth of popular musical culture in Malta. Local rituals are also discussed as native expressions influenced by a pot-pourri of foreign cultures.