Maltese Nativity at the Vatican

It’s been over 30 years that the Vatican had set up a beautiful nativity in St Peter’s Square, next to the obelisk in the center of the square. This year it has been decided that from now, a different country will be responsible for creating and setting up the Nativity. And the first country chosen was Malta, and the nativity was opened and blessed yesterday by Pope Francis. It was a labor of love created by a group of artisans from Malta and Gozo, our sister island. 

The main artist is Manwel Grech, and it took over a week to set the whole nativity which was created over the past 10 months in Malta, and then shipped in 2 containers. Thousands of people will now see the Nativity, which will stay in place until February 2nd, the feast of the Presentation of Jesus, and the end of the Christmas season. The Nativity has some Maltese features, like a fishing boat, fishing nets, farmers, artefacts found in Maltese homes, a typical Maltese balcony, and even the first Maltese Saint, St George Preca with a group of children. 

There are 17 life-size statues, all made from fibre-glass to protect them from inclement weather. The whole set will then be dismantled and it will be set up every year in a different place in Malta, while another country will be chosen for each year to come. The large Christmas Tree came from Trento, Italy. For the occasion, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at St Paul’s outside the walls on December 17th.