In Guardia at the Palio della Carriera in full regalia

In Guardia re-enactors take part in various celebrations

The In Guardia unit that normally takes part in a regular re-enactment at Fort St. Elmo on Sundays from October to June has recently participated in events around various localities in Malta and Gozo.

• Palio Della Carriera 2009 — Ħamrun

  On May 9 the unit participated in a particular ceremony at Hamrun celebrating the twinning of this town with Carpineto Romano, an Italian town near Rome. Around 150 persons from this town dressed up in various mediaeval costumes and walked down High Street Hamrun followed by the In Guardia Re-enactors of the Malta Tourism Authority.  The latter portrayed historical characters related to the military set-up of the Order of the Knights of St. John. The Pikemen were followed by the musketeers who in turn were followed by the Palace Guards and the band. At the end of the processional pageantry was the Grand Master and his entourage. These all reached a particular area of the street where a jousting tournament of ‘running the rings’ was held.

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  © 2009 - Sacred Island

• Lejlet Lapsi Festival — Gozo

  On Saturday May 23 in the morning, the In Guardia Unit participated in a grand re-enactment in Gozo as part of the Lejliet Lapsi festival. On this occasion the Grand Master was accompanied by his entourage and a military unit from near St. George’s Square and walked up to the Citadel where he was greeted by the Fortress Commandar and the Vicar General of the church.

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  © 2009 MTA - Mario Galea

• Ħaż-Żebbuġ Jistiednek — Ħaż-Żebbuġ

  On the same day but in the evening the In Guardia Unit participated in another interesting event which took place in Ħaż-Żebbuġ.  The occasion is ‘Ħaż-Żebbuġ Jistiednek’. The evening featured the In Guardia unit portraying the ceremonious entrance into this town by Grand Master De Rohan, as happened historically nearly 240 years ago. This event in history marked Grand Master De Rohan as the protective patron of the town.  The Grand Master entered the town in his majestic horse-drawn coach.  The In Guardia unit was accompanied by numerous re-enactors from Żebbuġ dressed up as peasants.

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  © 2009 Zanzu Photography