VICTORIA, GOZO — In a move that has left many scratching their heads, the Maltese government has declared a national holiday to mark the 350th anniversary of the first potato being confused for a rock on Gozo.
The holiday, officially dubbed ‘National Rock-Potato Day,’ will feature a boulder-tossing contest where participants will compete to find the most potato-like rocks. “We’re proud of our heritage, especially mistakes made a long time ago,” said Minister of Culture, Ġorġ. “This is a chance to celebrate our creativity in misunderstanding basic vegetables!”
The announcement caught the attention of locals. Marija, a resident of Gozo, remarked, “I never knew a potato could start so much excitement. But to be honest, I still don’t understand how they thought it was a rock. It’s round!”
Prizes and Events for the Day
To mark the occasion, the government has promised prizes for the small stones that most resemble potatoes. These awards include a year’s supply of pastizzi, a lifetime subscription to the Gozo ferry, and a golden spud trophy. Tumas, one of the contestants, stated, “I’m training hard! I just need to find the perfect rock-potato!"
"This is a chance to celebrate our creativity in misunderstanding basic vegetables!”
The boulder-tossing contest will take place in Victoria’s main square, with the Planning Authority confirming that they’re “thrilled” as they can finally wave goodbye to years of planning committee meetings about where best to throw rocks.
Officials expect thousands to gather, with foreign tourists eager to understand the significance of what a rock-potato is. Zaren, a bewildered visitor, said, “I came for the history, but this is like nothing I’ve ever seen. Are they really throwing rocks that look like potatoes?“
At press time, the Prime Minister was seen practicing his boulder toss at his villa, with news reporters noting the high potato-like potential of the surrounding stones.