Christmas in Malta - part 1

A typical presepio or Nativity depicting the scene of the birth of Jesus.

We are not likely to have a white Christmas in Malta. Weather conditions resemble those of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. The temperature during the Christmas season fluctuates from a maximum of 66 degrees Fahrenheit to a minimum of 52 on very cold day. Christmas is Christmas everywhere, but there are certain characteristics that make a Maltese Christmas different from that of many other countries.

The streets of towns and villages are decorated and lit with multicolored lights (festuni). Shop windows display the usual Christmas decorations and a large variety of toys and presents to lure Christmas shoppers who jam the streets. Christmas trees (is-sigra tal-Milied) and the figure of Father Christmas (Santa Claus) are seen all over the place. The main feature, which is a typically Maltese tradition, is the number of cribs (presepji) that can be seen in public places and in private homes, and of course in churches.

The first Maltese crib we know of is that found at the Benedictine Nuns in Mdina and bears on its framework the year 1826. The main characters in the crib are naturally Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus together with the cow, the donkey and the sheep; some shepherds and the three Kings who will arrive on the feast of the Epiphany. However many people display just the baby Jesus sitting on a rock or sleeping. An incredible display of baby Jesuses is found in an all-year round Museum in Birkirkara with hundreds of images, some of which are a few hundred years old.

The Holy Family after Jesus' birth.

Traditionally, the crib figurines (pasturi) were made of clay. These fragile penny clay figurines were easily acquired few years ago. Nowadays modern plastic figurines are more commonly found in the Maltese family crib. Many crafty enthusiasts prepare quite an elaborate display of the town of Bethlehem, and are usually on display throughout the month of December in various homes, parish centers and other places of interest.

A popular tradition is the Christmas Novena, 9 days of preparation during which a sung Mass is celebrated in churches, with the focus being on a different character from the Nativity story each day, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary, Shepherds, Kings, baby Jesus, etc. Many children participate in this Novena, especially by singing Christmas carols.