Qrendi

Qrendi
Il-Qrendi
Crendi
Local council
Il-Kunsill Lokali tal-Qrendi

The parish church of Qrendi

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: Tyrium Dirutas Servo Moles
Coordinates: 35°50′3″N 14°27′32″E / 35.83417°N 14.45889°ECoordinates: 35°50′3″N 14°27′32″E / 35.83417°N 14.45889°E
Country  Malta
Island Malta
Borders Mqabba, Siġġiewi, Żurrieq
Government
 • Mayor David M. Schembri (PL)
Area
 • Total 4.9 km2 (1.9 sq mi)
Population (March 2013)
 • Total 2,725
 • Density 560/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Demonym Qrendi (m), Qrendija (f), Qrendin (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code QRD
Dialing code 356
Patron saint St. Mary
Day of festa 15 August (St. Mary); 1st Sunday of July (Our Lady of Lourdes)
Website Official website

Qrendi is a small village in the southwest of Malta, with a population of 2725 people (March 2013).[1] It is near Mqabba and Żurrieq. Within its boundaries are two well-known Neolithic temples called Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim. In this village two feasts are held annually. The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated either on the last Sunday of June or on the first Sunday of July, with the 15 August the titular feast of the Ascension of Our Lady. This feast is popularly known as the feast of Santa Maria.

Although the majority of the village's old core buildings remain today, Qrendi has changed considerably in recent times. A bypass road has been built to divert through-traffic away from the village, modern suburb developments has been built and an open space with a bus terminus being created in front of the Parish Church by removing the walled grounds from an old villa.

Churches and Chapels in Qrendi

Within the Qrendi countryside one can find the Maqluba doline, an enormous sinkhole that occurred during a storm in 1343. According to legend a small chapel existed at the time, which must make it one of the oldest surviving Christian buildings in Malta.

There are seven other churches and chapels in the parish, most of them constructed on the site of earlier structures. The first parish was set up in 1436, when the village was within Żurrieq's parish. Qrendi became a separate parish in 1618.

The ornate baroque Parish Church, designed by Lorenzo Gafà the architect of Mdina Cathedral, was completed in 1720.

Chapels in Qrendi include San Mattew tal-Maqluba, San Mattew iz-Zghir, Madonna tal-Hniena, Madonna tal-Grazzja, Santa Katerina, Is-Salvatur.

Band Clubs in Qrendi

There are two band clubs in Qrendi: the Saint Mary’s Band and the Lourdes Band. They play during village's feast period, as well as prepare the fireworks, elaborate decorations and entertainment for the festivities, and play a central role in Qrendi's society and culture.

Firework factories in Qrendi

Qrendi's firework factories, which produces the pyrotechnics for Qrendi's feasts and those of many of the other villages on the Maltese Islands, are made by volunteers.

There are two in the locality, each owned by one of the two band clubs based in the village. These are Saint Mary's Fireworks Factory and Lourdes Fireworks Factory. The latter has recently introduced pyrotechnic-musical shows, the first factory to introduce them, and have become a staple part of Qrendi's Our Lady of Lourdes feast. Work is underway to expand such displays into other feasts.

On 30 April 2011, Lourdes Fireworks Factory won the 2011 edition of the Malta International Fireworks Festival.

Accidents

Both factories has been involved in a number of accidents during its existence, which has cost the lives of five people.

During the 1950s, an explosion at the Lourdes Fireworks Factory killed one worker and injured another, which caused the buildings to close. It was eventually reopened in another building on 11 November 1976.

On 22 May 1972, an explosion at Saint Mary's Fireworks Factory occurred which killed local villager John Falzon. This prompted plans and preparations for a new, more modern factory to be built, which began in September that year. On the 10 February 1974, another terrible accident occurred when Emanuel Aquilina, Martin Mallia and Jack Bugeja lost their lives whilst manufacturing some fireworks. In the midst of this latest disaster for the Society the joy of Qrendi's firework production turned became monotonous and emotional.

Zones in Qrendi

Qrendi Main Roads

References

  1. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality" (PDF). Malta Government Gazette (19,094). 31 March 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.

External links