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Merry Christmas Everyone!
(25th December 2004)

Christmas is marked by various traditions, folklore and customs which are well rooted in local religious beliefs. One Maltese tradition is the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve where a boy or a girl, normally aged 7 to 10 years old, does the preaching of the sermon instead of the priest. This is known in Maltese as the ‘Priedka tat-Tifel’ which means ‘the preaching of the child’. This year it was Joseph Cauchi's turn to deliver the traditional preaching.

Click here to watch Joseph Cauchi's 'Preaching of the Child'

The High Mass started with the procession of baby Jesus accompanied by the popular hymn Adeste Fidelis. The sermon also included a mini-pageant with children dressed up as shepherds, Joseph and Mary carrying a baby doll (representing Jesus) acting out the story of the Nativity. After the mass, many young people decided to celebrate the rest of the night out with their family and friends!

Santa Clause was also busy with his "Annual Home Visits". More then seventy gifts were delivered in the whole area of Ghajnsielem with Santa’s ‘”voyage” starting at 5.30pm and finishing around 11pm - just in time for families to make it to the Midnight Mass.

As expected, Christmas Day was wet and windy. Many decided to spend this day in the traditional Maltese way where all the family and friends are united to eat a super dinner together. The menus certainly included the Christmas Turkey, Christmas Cakes, Christmas Puddings and maybe an Italian Panetone! On Christmas night the weather was rainy and with strong winds. This wintry weather is not expected to improve until Monday. In fact the Ferry Service was out of service on Sunday, Boxing Day.

Meanwhile we would like to wish all of you a wonderful Festive Season and all the best for 2005!
 

Boxing Day Weather.
Strong Winds led to a disruption in the Gozo Ferry Services