and more. Special sweets include mqaret, pastry stuffed with dates, and white nougat with almonds or peanuts. The week features many processions—one night features relics, another, St. Nicholas statue—and religious services. The liturgical music inside the Siggiewi Parish church is also at its best during this week, starting off with the triduum which are followed by a Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Solemn Te Deum, Vespers and Solemn mass on the day of the feast. Siggiewi is synonymous with music by the famed Paolo Nani. On the evening before the Sunday feast day a major procession with brass bands goes through the village. The celebrations also feature a fireworks display. On Sunday the large St. Nicholas statue comes out of the church go in procession through the village. This procession has music, incense, confetti thrown by bystanders, and palm branches and flowers. On returning to the church the statue is welcomed with clapping, crying and singing. Inside the church the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows. Each town strives to have the most extravagant fireworks and the most accomplished musicians. Festival organizers collect significant funds so they can add to their accumulation of statues, flags and banners. These rivalries go back a long time—when the churches were built, and parishioners gave generously to build the most elaborate churches they could afford. Though the main festa, like most traditional festivals in Malta is in June, The liturgical feast of Saint Nicholas takes place on 6 December. There are also celebrations on this day although not on the large scale of those in June. The 6 December feast has become synonymous with a children's procession from the local Primary School to the Parish Church accompanied by the 2 local band clubs. In the evening a solemn mass is celebrated which is followed by fireworks and a musical concert by the Saint Nicholas Band Club. The 'Grupp tal-Armar 6 ta' Dicembru' which is responsible for the splendor and decorations worthy of a great feast decorate the main square with six artistic banners. Culture and sport Siġġiewi is the location of two band clubs, the Banda San Nikola A.D.1883 and the Siggiewi Festival Brass Band, founded in 1986. The Siggiewi Festival Brass Band was the first band established in Malta which plays only instruments made of brass. It is also the home of Siggiewi scout group, Siggiewi Football Club and Siggiewi Basketball Club.