Wherever Christmas is celebrated, the crib (presepju) forms part of the country’s tradition and Ghajnsielem is no exception. Now that the festive season is over, Ghajnsielem.com is bringing you some photos of works exhibited by three enthusiasts - Franco Ciangura, Francis Cauchi and Herman Mifsud. 

In these cribs, one can easily notice that there are various actors. These falli under two group types: one, biblical universal actors including Our Lady, Baby Jesus, St Joseph, angels with/without musical instruments, the three kings, a beast of burden, normally a donkey, and a cow; and the other actors dressed in Maltese popular style of dress and representing traditional crafts and pastimes and scenes depicting everyday life in Malta and/or Gozo, such as musicians (e.g. “taz-zaqq" (the bagpipe player), “tat-tanbur’’ (the hand drummer) and “taz-zavzava" or “tar-rabbaba" (the friction drum player), “l-ghannejja" or “ix-xrik" (lit. the two partners in folk singing, or, impromptu singers), weavers, farmers, fishermen, fishmongers, bakers, hunters, “ix-xabbatur" (lit. the climber), “l-ghageb" or “l-imghaggeb" (lit. the simple man full of wonder), and “ir-rieqed" (lit. the sleeper).

As in the various aspects of Maltese life and world-view variations dominate Maltese Christmas culture, explicitly to be discovered in the pasturi or Christmas statuettes.

Meanwhile, the winners for the Best Crib Competition (in Ghajnsielem) have been announced. The results are:

1st Place: Familja Ciangura
2nd Place: Stefan Vassallo
Third Place: Christian Bonello - Aurelio Bugeja
Consolation Prize: Jesmond Bugeja u Museum Subien
Special Award: Herman Mifsud

 

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