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PAGE07.pdf
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PAGE12_13.pdf
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Image: Christ the Redeemer, Ûejtun © IMPACT PR
GOOD FRIDAY PROCESSIONS DURING HOLY WEEK, 19 PASSION PROCESSIONS TAKE TO THE STREETS. THESE CONSIST OF PASSION STATUES CARRIED SHOULDER-HIGH, PEOPLE IN BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL COSTUMES, ALTAR BOYS, MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY, BAND PLAYERS AND CHILDREN CARRYING EITHER THE SYMBOLS OF THE PASSION OR TABLETS SHOWING QUOTATIONS FROM THE BIBLE ABOUT THE PASSION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD. ACCORDING TO TRADITION, ALL THESE PROCESSIONS ORIGINATED FROM A PROCESSION ORGANISED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE ARCHICONFRATERNITY OF ST JOSEPH AT RABAT ON GOOD FRIDAY EVENING.
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Image: Ûejtun © Mario Galea - www.viewingmalta.com MY
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Originally this procession included only one statue, that of the ‘Monument’. This consisted of a reclining figure representing the corpse of Christ beneath a canopy which symbolised the tomb. The original image which was imported from Sicily in the 16th century still exists. It is well kept in the Oratory of St Joseph, in the Church of the Franciscan Minors (locally known as Ta’ Ìiesu) at Rabat. This historical figure is no longer carried in the annual Good Friday procession instead the present canopy carries another ‘modern’ figure. The idea of such a procession in honour of the dead Christ might have originated from Palermo or Spain. The members of the Archiconfraternity of St Joseph as far back as 1575 hailed from the elite and ruling classes of Mdina. Some of them might have been to Palermo or Spain for the annual Holy Week festivities. These were Maltese ‘ambassadors’ who went yearly either to Palermo or Spain to claim from the then Mother Country privileges from the Spanish King or his Viceroy who lived in Sicily. This pageant might have instilled in these ambassadors the wish to start a similar procession in Malta. When they returned they might have talked about these processions with their fellow members of the archiconfraternity. They must have instilled the same wish in the other members of the Archiconfraternity of St Joseph and decided to organise one of their own.
Image: Monument, Mostal © IMPACT PR
Image: Mosta © IMPACT PR
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The BOV Opera Weekend 2013
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The guide books usually carry a tiny picture of The Manoel Theatre alias Teatru Manoel in Valletta and describe it with some intensity. Rightly so and as a visitor to Malta, you deserve to visit this bijoux of a theatre which is one of a kind. Personally commissioned and funded by a Portuguese Grand Master of the Knights of St John in 1731, the theatre was named after the man himself - Antonio Manoel de Vilhena. The intention behind its building which was initially known as Teatro Pubblico was a highly noble one as the inscription above its main entrance testifies… “for the honest recreation of the people”. And recreate it did.
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The first performance staged was Scipione Maffei's classic tragedy Merope, on January 9, 1732. The Knights themselves were the performers, and the set was designed by the Knights' chief architect, Francois Mondion. Over the years it welcomed an extensive repertoire of lyric operas performed by companies of visiting professionals or by amateur groups of Knights of St John, and French tragedies or Italian comedies. Works by Hasse, Piccinni and Galuppi were popular during its early years. A small theatre holding 623 seats, an auditorium, three tiers of boxes constructed entirely of wood and decorated with 22-carat gold leaf, and a pale blue, trompe-l'oeil ceiling that resembles a round cupola, the theatre will once, again be staging some top notch performances throughout March via the BOV Opera weekend, thus re-confirming the Bank of Valletta’s strong relationship with Teatru Manoel. A most anticipated series of events spread between Thursday 14th and Sunday 17th March 2013 will include two highly acclaimed operas - Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci. These will be under Maltese production and directed by Denise Mulholland and Nanette Brimmer and will see the pariticipation of varied Maltese and international soloists. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra will be playing under the baton of Mro Damiano Binetti. For more information on this yearís programme visit www.teatrumanoel.com.mt. Bookings from bookings@ teatrumanoel.com.mt or by calling 21246389.
Images: © Teatru Manoel
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GOZO'S
SALTPANS ROUGH COARSE SEA SALT IS THE STUFF WHICH IS WIDELY USED IN TRADITIONAL MEDITERRANEAN DISHES. RETRIEVED FROM SALT PANS AROUND THE SHORES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN, SALT GATHERING IS AN ANCIENT TRADITION THAT SPEAKS OF HARD WORK, PATIENCE, SUNSHINE AND SEA.
Image: © Ray Attard - www.viewingmalta.com
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On the tiny island of Gozo, and beneath an imperfectly picturesque white hill known as Il-Qolla l-Bajda, the surroundings of Xwejni Bay contain several natural and man-made shallow hollow pans that hold salt crystals.
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Whether reached via Marsalforn and Qbajjar, or down from Ûebbu©, the bay is blessed not only with the beauty of a distant glimpse of Sicily, but right there, one finds sea salt, quietly collecting in the saltpans. The ebb and flow of the sea fills the pans and retreats to allow them to dry out in the sun. By summer the heat is intense enough to absorb all moisture and leave the crystals glimmering the sun, ready to be collected. A legend surrounds these saltpans. It tells of a wealthy watchmaker from Ûebbu©, who realised he could make a fortune through the production of salt. His engineered endeavours were however unsuccessful especially when these cause salty sea water to be sprayed onto neighbouring fields and destroying crops. Whatever is true of the legend is not quite certain, but what is true is that salt is still, to this day collected from these saltpans and it remains a key ingredient in traditional cuisine.
Image: © Rene Rossignaud - www.viewingmalta.com
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PAGE19NEW.pdf
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Image: KwareΩimal © IMPACT PR
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EASTER TIME, TIME FOR SWEETS Whatever the time of year, the Maltese always have a particular sweet to enjoy. During Lent and Holy Week, the Maltese were expected to fast, to do sacrifices and to say more prayers. Everybody was expected to fast, only children and very old people were exempted. Some even excluded dairy products from their diet at this time of the year. A typical Lenten sweet which does not contain dairy products is still very popular. This is ‘kwareΩimal’.
GLORIOUS EASTER SWEET The most important Easter sweet is the ‘figolla’. This is very popular among children on Easter Sunday. This usually consists of a figure of a man or a woman. The figures of a lamb (a symbol of the risen Christ) or a mermaid are also popular. It is formed out of two pieces of biscuit pastry and the two halves of pastry are then sandwiched together with marzipan. The top half is then decorated with icing of many colours. Apart from this decoration an Easter egg, made of chocolate, is placed on top. These ‘figolli’ which are either home-made or bought from a confectioner, are usually exchanged as presents on Easter Sunday. There is a custom among the Maltese to take their children to watch an Easter procession. These children take with them their ‘figolla’ (the singular of ‘figolli’) and while the statue of the Risen Christ
passes by, these children are encouraged to raise their ‘figolli’ for Christ to bless them. Easter is a glorious time for those who like sweets. Apart from these local sweets, the Maltese today can also taste Easter Eggs as well as the Italian ‘colomba’.
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LIVING IN MALTA & GOZO
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Celebrate St Patrick’s Day You don’t have to be Irish to attend the Emerald Society’s 4th St Patrick’s dinner dance to be held in the presence of The Ambassador HE Mr. Jim Hennessy and Mrs Monica Nally Hennessy on Saturday, 16th March 2013, in the Meridian Suite of the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, 19:15 for 19:45. Tickets €35 . Dancing till midnight to the music of Benny and Tonia. Enquiries to 99263378 /99031102 Email: emeraldmalta@gmail.com
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MALTA GOES RURAL
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IN A BID TO PROTECT NATIONAL RURALITY, THE MALTAGOESRURAL PROJECT COMES AS A WELCOME INITIATIVE. MALTAGOESRURAL SEEKS TO PROMOTE RURAL HERITAGE BY INTRODUCING WALKING TRAILS AND SMALLSCALE INFRA-STRUCTURAL INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY IN SEMI-RURAL, RURAL AND NATURAL AREAS. The Malta Tourism Authority aims to increment rural tourism with this project, partly financed by the European Union under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) Europe Investing in Rural Areas.
If you want to keep updated with events in Malta & Gozo...
you may regularly receive a link to the online version of this monthly magazine in your email. Simply e-mail us on: info@impactpr.com.mt
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Three of nine walks have been introduced: Fawwara Walk (Dingli - Wied iΩ-Ûurrieq), Girgenti Walk (Buskett - Si©©iewi) and the Windmills Walk (Ûurrieq - Safi). The routes and trails pass through rural areas and focus on natural features, scenic spots, village cores, heritage sites and valuable elements of tangible and intangible heritage. Four embellishment projects are noteworthy: Il-Maqluba, Qrendi, where the square in front of the historic St. Matthew’s Chapel will be re-vamped with new paving, landscaping, safety features and street furniture. This important wayside chapel is appreciated for its legendary association with the adjacent natural sinkhole. Ìnien il-Ìibjun l/o Ûurrieq, where passage walls have been realigned and paved. The garden now benefits from a reservoir to improve irrigation. Ramps have improved accessibility for disabled persons. The playing field upgraded with new equipment, has had its soft paving replaced. New lighting, a water feature, plus interpretation boards have been installed along with CCTV cameras. Misra˙ Ólantun, Ûurrieq, once a focal point for local farmers, will see trees planted to create areas of shade and relaxation for visitors. An existing borehole has been covered with Maltese stone to resemble a typical Maltese Girna, and will be complemented with a water feature. Orderly grass blocks on car passages, will replace uneven ground. Tal-Providenza Chapel, Si©©iewi and the square itself are very important attractions. The square was re-paved with grass blocks, adjoining rubble boundary walls were restored, benches and street furniture installed to further enhance this space. Images: © www.viewingmalta.com
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31ST MARCH & THE REGATTA EVEN THE SMALLEST ISLAND NATIONS HAVE THEIR HISTORIC MOMENTS TO CELEBRATE AND COMMEMORATING THESE IS PART OF THE NATIONAL CALENDAR OF EVENTS. MALTA IS A CASE IN POINT WITH A VERY COLOURFUL HISTORY THAT IS HIGHLIGHTED BY ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT DATES. RECENT HISTORY MARKS FREEDOM DAY WHICH FALLS ON MARCH 31 AND REMEMBERS THE DISTANT DATE IN 1979 WHEN MALTA BECAME FREE OF ANY FOREIGN FORCES ON ITS TERRAIN. Freedom Day or Jum il-Ă“elsien as it is called in the national Maltese language, commemorates the date when the last ruling country left Malta definitely. British troops left the island after hundreds of years during which Malta was a British colony and served as a military and naval base. Malta achieved total sovereignty over its land on 31 March 1979 after a lengthy agreements with the British, and such a highlight in the national calendar deserves celebration. The annual presidential inspection of the Guard of Honour and laying of flowers on Freedom Monument in Vittoriosa will be heralded by the presence of the Band of the Armed Forces of Malta and the Guards of Honour. These shall assemble in Gavino Gulia Square, Cospicua where they will perform the traditional march along the strand before arriving in front of the monument where the commemorative event is celebrated. Later in the day, the Regatta, a popular national boat race will see the involvement of teams from the Grand Harbour area, which teams will manually manoeuvre the trational boats in a bid to win the treasured Regatta Shield. In Gozo, Freedom Day will be commemorated by a concert organised by the National and Regional Feasts Committee within the Ministry for Gozo.
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Images: © DOI
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