One of Britain’s leading newspapers has tried to interpret one of Malta’s most daring festive traditions – the ‘gostra’. Attached to the traditional religious village Festa, the gostra is unique to seaside villages that set up a pole off the water’s edge, stick a prize (or a flag) at the very end, then after greasing it well, challenge the locals to climb.
Perhaps images explain this tradition much better than words. Even better, a visit to St Julians during the Festa might land you a challenge you also cannot refuse!
And here’s what the Daily Mail had to say about it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2401919/Feast-St-Julian-Contestants-grapple-crazy-game-religious-festival-Malta.html