This weekend, the Feast of Our Lady of Malonat took place, an ancestral festival since 1854.
Since 1854, the City of Nice, in collaboration with the Malonat Association, celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Malonat each year. This is a religious and popular festival, rooted in Niçoise tradition.
Every last Sunday in July, the Prioresses of Malonat devote their efforts to flower the Oratory and decorate Malonat Street. These decorations reflect the devotion and commitment of the community to preserve this living tradition.
The Prioresses of Malonat fulfilled their promise by organizing a special mass in the Chapel of the Holy Cross, celebrated by the Dominican Brother J-M. Zanga, Chaplain of the White Penitents.
The Progression of the Festival
Saturday evening marked the beginning of the celebrations with a torchlight procession. The statue of the Virgin was transported from Malonat Street to the Church of Gesù. This luminous procession brought together many people in a solemn and festive atmosphere in the streets of Nice.
On Sunday, the procession brought the statue of the Virgin back to her oratory. This return was accompanied by songs, prayers, and demonstrations of devotion from the residents.
Two Exhibitions
Likewise, alongside the processions, two exhibitions were presented this year: “Centenary of the Malonat Festival” and “Women of Malonat, Children of Old Nice.”
These exhibitions, organized on the terrace dei Prioulessa, highlighted the festival’s history and the role of women in preserving this tradition. They offered visitors a plunge into the past, thus revealing little-known aspects of cultural heritage.
