A Breakfast or
Qrendi is one of the seven parishes that celebrate the Feast of the Assumption or, as the festivity is commonly referred to in Malta, the feast of Santa Marija.
Dr Simon Mercieca is senior lecturer, Department of History
This year happens to be the four-hundredth anniversary since Qrendi became a separate parish. Very few are aware that before Qrendi became a parish, residents in this locality were already celebrating this feast.
This festivity had a peculiar characteristic; a special breakfast was held by way of celebration. This may sound odd. Nowadays, breakfast, as part of a religious celebration, is associated with Christmas. However, in the Middle Ages holding breakfast as part of feast celebrations was the norm, particularly among some of the small rural chapels in the area between Qrendi and Siggiewi.
Up to the early XVIIth century, the custom of holding breakfast after early morning prayers was still maintained. In some instances, money was even bequeathed to be used specifically for this custom.
The report of Bishop Balthassare Cagliares’ pastoral visit, in 1615, distinctly refers to a breakfast in Qrendi on the feast day of the Assumption. During this period, Qrendi had two chapels dedicated to the Assumption. A breakfast was held in the main chapel that eventually became the parish church.
During the early XVIIth century, Qrendi still formed part of the parish of Żurrieq. Indeed, Qrendi was a small hamlet, amid a number of hamlets that dotted the area. There were also the hamlets of Ħal Lew and Ħal Manin. What is also noteworthy here, is that this breakfast was held at a church which had not yet parish status. This may explain why this custom survived, for the custom would be discontinued once this church became a parish church.
Incidentally, this church in Qrendi, which eventually in 1618 was chosen to become the parish church, had a cemetery around it. In those days, the faithful were not troubled or disturbed to be eating and feasting with their dead! In my younger days, I recall as a child that we were not allowed to eat in sacred areas. Our forefathers were of a different opinion!
In the Qrendi area, this was not the only breakfast to be held on a feast day. It was also held at another church dedicated to Our Saviour (IsSalvatur), however this custom was discontinued by 1614. Yet, in the nearby village of Ħal Manin, in the only chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas, breakfast was still being held in connection with celebrating his namesake. Still not all churches held this type of breakfast. Curiously,