Gozo: A beacon of Christmas spirit

Achieving harmony between tradition, development, and progress is not always possible.

One tradition in Gozo is the Christmas celebration. We must cherish and enhance it for future generations. From a young age, Gozitans cherish this tradition. Currently, Gozo’s population stands at approximately 40,000. Despite being stretched and strained, the social fabric still supports the joyous Christmas feeling within our families. Gozo now has a more diverse population, with people of various religions and cultures. Gozitans warmly embrace these foreigners and strive to progress together with genuine reciprocal respect.

Christmas presents us with an important chance to enhance respect for foreigners and visitors from our sister island. It will support their adaptation to the Gozitan way of life.

The way we celebrate Christmas varies because of personal preferences, beliefs, and financial situations. The most honourable way to celebrate is by attending midnight mass at church to remember Jesus’ birth.

Years ago, early December used to bring a joyful anticipation of the upcoming Christmas festivities. Families, especially those with young children, were excited to begin preparations by setting up a nativity crib. To complete this, they placed a few canary seeds (gulbiena) in cotton wool patches in small cups or similar containers. They regularly moistened these seeds and, most importantly, kept them in complete darkness. Over time, the seeds sprouted and grew into thin white streaks, eventually forming a well-formed spaghetti-like white grass decoration by Christmas Day. Families used to arrange their crib without baby Jesus until Christmas Eve, when they would add Him to the nativity scene with pride.

Sadly, technology and media dominate our kids’ minds, causing them to seek alternative activities in their free time.

In Gozo, each village is home to a lively parish church, while larger villages have a basilica and in Victoria we have a Golden Basilica and a Cathedral. Despite attending less frequently, families still go to their local churches. To keep in touch, the parish church sends them a weekly bulletin with all the relevant information about the church’s activities. Handouts are the primary means of getting information about church events. These church festivities culminate with the Christmas Eve midnight mass. The church includes also the traditional Christmas sermon in the midnight mass. A young boy typically delivers this sermon in the parish church. This year, the Capuchins friary in Victoria is going even further. A boy and girl will deliver separate sermons.

Local media focuses more on external events like concerts, Christmas market, carol singing, cultural occasions, parties and similar activities. For Roman Catholics, Christmas signifies the human birth of Jesus. Those who practise different religions see Christmas as any other celebration. They avoid the greetings of ‘Merry Christmas’ and instead refer to the season’s greetings’. They do not depict Nativity scenes on Christmas cards; instead they feature snowy landscapes or other scenery.

Gozo still holds on to the tradition of Christmas, as confirmed by the Ministry for Gozo, which decorates all the principal streets, including traffic islands. Angels with trumpets announcing the birth of Jesus, along with boards or LED lights depicting baby Jesus, in a cradle adorn several places in Victoria. Until recently, it was the custom to have a small crib at every traffic roundabout. They have withdrawn this because people vandalised or stole them.

In the past, residents would showcase a small baby Jesus in their windows, embellished with lights. Nowadays, illuminated decorations are replacing this tradition, like a Christmas tree and a Santa Claus climbing up a balcony to give presents to children.

The Christmas sermon during midnight mass is now a regular event in nearly all Gozo villages and Victoria. If space allows, the church’s parvis also features a life-size crib.

All over Gozo, parents rush to toy shops to fulfil their children’s Christmas wishes. These young children continue to believe in the custom of Father Christmas arriving late at night on Christmas to deliver the toys they requested.

Present-giving is customary among friends, relatives, and lovers. The options range from perfume, clothes, jewellery, and vouchers. Companies use hampers as a gesture of appreciation for recipients, regardless of their status.

The Gozo Ministry organises many diverse events in Victoria, leading up to Christmas and Epiphany. You can download the bumper programme organised by the Gozo Ministry, which includes all events happening this festive season.

This programme is truly impressive! The programme is bilingual, featuring Maltese and English, with an enchanting ‘Princeps Pacis Nativity Scene’ by Adonai Camilleri Cauchi on the front cover. Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri is straightforward in his introduction to this programme. He says, ‘We are sure that we will meet and exceed the expectations of both the residents and those who choose to visit Gozo during the Christmas period because they are activities inspired by the greatest event that humanity has ever experienced: the birth of Jesus Christ.’

Enjoy a variety of concerts, carol singing, processions, and exhibitions in this program. It’s worth mentioning the significant events at Villa Rundle and Ghar Ilma. From Saturday, December 16, to Sunday, January 7, 2024, the ‘Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem’ will be the main flag bearer for these events in 2023.

Inspired by Jesus in the crib, let’s come together and share this joyful moment, leaving our differences behind.

“Local media focuses more on external events like concerts, Christmas market, carol singing, cultural occasions, parties and similar activities. For Roman Catholics, Christmas signifies the human birth of Jesus. Those who practise different religions see Christmas as any other celebration. They avoid the greetings of ‘Merry Christmas’ and instead refer to the season’s greetings’.” SASA