Maltese Christmas Traditions By Luana Camilleri Year 5 Tulips

In Malta, Christmas is known as ‘Il-Milied’ and celebrated on 25 December. Christmas is a greatly celebrated festivity in Malta and Gozo, both because of its religious significance as well as due to its social aspect. CHRISTMAS IN MALTA AND GOZO

Midnight Mass Christmas is very important to the people of Malta and Gozo. Most people in Malta are Catholics and go to the Midnight Mass which is held on Christmas Eve. Maltese churches are decorated with lights and nativity cribs built by church goers. Usually the churches are full with people on Christmas Eve. The figure of the baby Jesus is put on the main altar at the midnight hour of Christmas night, commemorating the birth of the Messiah.

Boys Sermon One Maltese Christmas tradition is the 'Priedka tat-Tifel' which means 'the preaching of the child'. A boy or a girl, normally aged 7 to 10, does the preaching of the sermon at the Midnight Mass. The child learns the sermon by heart and starts learning it four or five weeks before s/he preaches on Christmas Eve. The boy or girl tells the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem in an original way.

Christmas Lunch Christmas Day in Malta is a time to celebrate with family. It is an occasion for family reunion. All extended members of a family assemble in one house for lunch and stay there till the evening. Maltese people have a wide range of food at Christmas.

Christmas Lunch Traditionally, the Maltese house-wife kept the fattest rooster ‘Dundjan’, especially for Christmas Lunch, which was roasted at the local bakery in a casserole full of potatoes and vegetables. The traditional desert served at Christmas was the Treacle Ring, 'Qaghqa tal-Ghasel', and to finish it off, a hot Chestnut and Cocoa Soup, 'Imbuljuta tal-Qastan', which was and is served as a cosy night cap during the cold December days in Malta. Today the traditional Maltese menu has made way for Christmas Turkey, Christmas Cakes, Christmas Puddings and Mince Pies, all inherited during 164 years of British rule ( ) in Malta. Italian Panetone has also become a Christmas favourite.

Cribs In Malta, Christmas is traditionally centered on 'Presepju‘ or Nativity cribs. During Christmastime in Malta, cribs are built almost everywhere and by everyone. These are then decorated with figurines, called 'pasturi‘ made of plastic or clay. The 'pasturi' figures represent Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the shepherds, angels, villagers and animals such as cows, donkeys and sheep. Thereupon, these are surrounded by lights and plants. At Epiphany it is traditional to put the three figures of the Magi in the crib.

Christmas Decorations Apart from many street lights which are lit at night, many Maltese houses are often also decorated with cribs with 'pasturi‘. Large figures of the baby Jesus are sometimes put behind windows or in balconies and lit at night. It is traditional to sow wheat, grain and canary seed, 'gulbiena', on cotton buds in flat pans five weeks before Christmas. These are left in dark corners in the house until the seeds produce white grass-like shoots. The pans with the fully-grown shoots are then used to decorate the crib or the statue of Baby Jesus.

Other Activities This season is celebrated to its fullest on the Maltese Islands, with the active participation of many; Nativity scenes, street lights, displays of cribs, carol services and other events are organised in each locality. Some localities also create a Live crib with locals taking part. Several traditional scenes are displayed with the help of the locals and live animals such as carpenters, blacksmiths and much more.

Christmas Activities In some villages there is also a procession around the village streets with the statue of Baby Jesus while singing Christmas carols. Visiting cribs is a popular activity at Christmastime and many locals spend time going round touring the various ‘presepju' displays. Some are very artistic and elaborate, with figures moving around mechanically and a degree of detail that comes from hours of meticulous work by dedicated. A Christmas highlight, which is popular for children and adults alike, is the annual pantomime held at the Manoel Theatre at Valletta. It's a happy mix of good slapstick humour for children and satire for adults.