When the Festa Lost Its Feathers

The Unprecedented Scandal in Valletta

It was a typical sunny day in Valletta, with the streets buzzing in anticipation. There, among the baroque buildings and the chatter of tourists admiring St. John’s Co-Cathedral, a peculiar turn of events began to stir. Manwel, a local festa enthusiast, had decided that the annual festa of St. Publius needed a facelift. “Ejja, why not make it something to truly remember?” Manwel mused.

Karmenu’s Contraption

Enter Karmenu, a retired shipwright from Mdina, known for his colorful character and knack for engineering marvels. Karmenu had just what Manwel needed: A giant, mechanical parrot he’d crafted for an abandoned Maltese version of “Pirates of the Caribbean”. “This beaked beauty will squawk ‘Viva l-Festa’ so loud, Marsalforn will hear it,” boasted Karmenu.

The Festa Goes Feathery

On festa day, the locals enjoyed their beloved pastizzi and laughed heartily, sipping on their Cisk beers under the banners, completely unaware of the spectacle that awaited them. As the procession commenced, Karmenu’s creation was unveiled: “The Parrot of Prosperity,” or so they named it. Its iridescent feathers, made from the recycled foil of past ħobż biż-żejt wrappers, shimmered in the sun.

The Twist That Ruffled Feathers

Just as the parrot was about to perform, a flock of real parrots descended upon Valletta, lured by the gargantuan bird’s authentic squawks. Manwel was flabbergasted, Karmenu was set aback, and the festa crowd turned into an orchestra of shock and awe. “Uwejja! Did our festa just go viral?” someone shouted, as all phones were whipped out faster than you could say “Facebook Live.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing the ‘Parrots over Parrots’ phenomenon – a festa first for Malta!” exclaimed a makeshift reporter, dodging feathers.

The Aftermath: An Avian Invasion

The streets of Valletta were now adorned not only with colorful banners but with parrots of all sizes, nibbling on leftovers of ‘ftira’ and squabbling over prime perching spots. The citizens responded as only true Maltese would, with a dash of ingenuity and a hint of humour. “If they want a feast, give them a feast,” declared Rita, the local ħobż biż-żejt maven, opening a pop-up stand for “Parrot Pleasers,” an array of bird-friendly treats.

The Flock Party Nobody Expected

Back in Mdina, Karmenu scratched his head, “Mela, who would’ve tought my mechanical bird would lead to a birdwatcher’s paradise?” He chuckled, starting to sell miniature versions of the parrot – a souvenir that would remind everyone of the festa that quite literally, took flight. Meanwhile, Manwel became the unsung hero of avian hospitality. His name whispered on the beaks of both humans and parrots alike, “Manwel, the man who made Malta a parrot’s port of call.”

The Surprising Turnaround

As for the parrots, they became the unofficial mascots of Valletta’s festa, drawing crowds from near and far, eager to witness the feathered frenzy. Manwel and Karmenu, hailed as the masterminds behind the accidental innovation, were interviewed by international news. Even the parrots seem to give an approving squawk whenever they passed by the gleaming parrot statue that now graced the Valletta entrance, a tribute to the day the festa lost its feathers but won its wings.

“This will go down in history as the feathery fiasco that became a festa fanfare. Kollox, from next year, is expected to be even more extravagant!” promised Manwel, as the town of Valletta nodded in agreement, their festa forever changed by an unexpected twist of feathers and fate.

Laughter echoed through the Maltese archipelago, and the ‘Times of Mela’ had plenty of material to parody for years to come. After all, in Malta, even the unexpected becomes a reason to celebrate – or at least, a darn good story to tell your mates over some rabbit stew and gbejna.