Th e traditional Maltese Christmas

Francesco Masini | Year 5 Tulips

The traditional Maltese

Christmas

INTRODUCTIONAs the 25th of December approaches everyone around the world starts preparing for Christmas. Every country in the world has its own unique way how to celebrate Christmas. Malta is no exception.

Here in Malta we have our own traditional way of celebrating Christmas.

THE CRIBFrom days before every house-hold starts preparing and

decorating the house with Christmas decorations. The crib is a central piece in every house.

HONEY RINGSHoney rings or better known “Qaghaq tal-Ghasel” is a typically

traditional Christmas recipe.

CHRISTMAS STAMPSEvery year the post office issues a set of stamps for the Christmas

season.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTSMain streets in towns and villages are decorated for Christmas by

the council.

YUMMY CHRISTMAS TREATSChristmas log and Christmas cake are also

present on our Christmas table.

THE GULBIENAA tradition that goes a long way is the planting of “gulbiena”. “Gulbiena” is planted at the begining of December in small

containers and is kept in a dark place till Christmas Eve. It is then brought out and put around the statue of baby Jesus in a window.

Long ago people were too poor to buy expensive Christmas decorations so they used “gulbiena” and some lights or candles to

put around baby Jesus. This tradition is still alive to this day.

THE CHRISTMAS DINNERAll the family gathers around the dinner table for the Christmas lunch or dinner. Turkey is the main course with other Maltese dishes such as “lasagne” or “timpana” and deserts such as the Christmas cake and honey rings.

THE CHRISTMAS TREEThe Christmas tree is in every house-

hold. Although this is not a Maltese tradition because it comes from the British reign in Malta, the Christmas

tree has been adopted by the Maltese people and has now become a

tradition in its own way.

A Christmas tree in Valletta

ADVENTAs soon as Advent period starts in The Church you can see a

special table with four candles on it, decorated with Christmas reed. These candles are lit one by one every Sunday up till

Christmas.

NOVENAIn Parishes around the island the presentations of Christmas plays

are performed during The Christmas “Novena” or before The Midnight Mass.

THE CHRISTMAS EVE PROCESSIONOn Christmas Eve early in the evening

around the towns and villages the procession with Baby Jesus is held. This is

organized by the members of the M.U.S.E.U.M society members. San Gorg

Preca founder of the society was the first person to introduce this procession.

The Statue of Baby Jesus is lifted by children and accompanied around the towns and villages with carol singing and prayers.

Some Maltese carols are “Fuq tiben maxtura”, “Ninna la tibkix izjed” and “O lejl

ta’ skiet”.

THE BOY’S SERMONAnother tradition is The Midnight Mass in which the boy’s sermon

is held from months before. The Parish Priest selects a boy from the altar boys and gives him along sermon which he has to learn by

heart and delivers to The Assembled Congregation on Christmas Eve. As a reward The Parish Priest gives the boy a statue of Baby

Jesus in a manger.