Activists prepare for a whole year putting up street decorations and preparing fireworks for the big event. The village band club would also have been preparing for a whole year. This triggers great rivalry between neighbouring villages to put up the better feast with the best fireworks. However this way of life is slowly being eroded away as the younger generations tend to live more modern life with the problems and opportunities this brings. Malta is considered to be a very safe and friendly country.
Serious crime is extremely rare and stiff penalties are imposed for drug related offences.
The minimum sentence for being caught with drugs even if for personal use is of six months imprisonment. Weather Today's Weather Malta has long hot summers and mild, rainy winters. On average Malta has 300 days of sunshine each year and 590mm of rainfall. During the summer months the sun shines for approximately 10 hours a day and 6 and a half hours a day during the winter months from November to March. September is still very warm but cooler and by October warm clothing is needed again for the evenings.