In some philosophies, Friday the 13th is looked upon as a day of bad luck and misfortune, particularly in Britain and British oriented areas. In other philosophies – like nearby Italy, this day is taken as the luckiest day of the year!
I will take the Italian version – and for very good reason, as I will explain.
By Albert Fenech (our erstwhile Horsted Keynes resident in Malta)
This year, Friday the 13th is a particularly outstandingly important day for the Maltese Islands because on this day, after 5,000 years of mainly foreign domination, for the first-time ever in history, the Maltese people became masters of their own homeland and for the first-time ever a Maltese was appointed as the Leader and Administrator of the Islands.
This year, December, Friday the 13th 2024, Malta will be celebrating 50 years as an independent Republic administered by Maltese Leader.
Fifty years ago on this day I remember proudly marching in Valletta with many thousands of others to watch the celebration ceremony and witness Sir Anthony Mamo, a highly-respected lawyer and author, being appointed as Malta’s first-ever Maltese Leader.
Naturally, in great poise and circumstance, the country will celebrate this anniversary in a most fitting manner and with great pride. Locally and otherwise, all are invited to be part of history and join in the 50th Anniversary Celebrations in the same square.
Those attending will witness an audiovisual experience unlike anything seen before in Malta. “L-Istorja, Aħna” (This is Our Story) will showcase the story of the people of Malta, from its humble beginnings and the forces that governed it, to standing on its own two feet, to draft its own journey.
The show will take the audiences through Malta’s milestones, where each and all will truly feel part of the past, the present and the future.
Presented in an extraordinary and distinctive format, this event promises to tell the nation’s story like never before and all are warmly invited to be part of this special occasion.
It will be spread over three days because of its high importance, that is 13th, 14th and 15th December with recitals, exhibitions and event’s detailing Malta’s 5,000 years of history of its Islands, including Gozo and Comino.
However, is all this what Malta will stand for this December?
You are very wide off the mark!
The month is full of exciting events from Fairyland Santa’s City in Valletta, Christmas Crib exhibitions, Pantomimes, Christmas markets and the New Year’s Celebrations.
There are the most outstanding of these:
Fairyland Santa’s City in Pjazza Tritoni just outside Valletta: this started on 6th December but will last until 5th January of next year and will include water fountain displays, recitals and sing-along.
Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem in Gozo: A good number of volunteers on the small village on neighbouring island Gozo, Ghajnsielem, exhibit a timeless story of the nativity spread over 20,000 square metres and takes visitors back 2,000 years. This annually draws many thousands and presents recitals of nativity history, and a life-size active crib of 150 volunteers acting nativity happenings, including shepherds tending their flocks and of course the nativity birth scene.
This will start on Saturday, 16th December and carry on to Saturday, 30th.
Christmas Cribs: The two islands will be showered with an endless number of home-made Christmas Cribs, many of surprisingly home-manufactured epics which cause one wonder of the talents of their makers.
So, is December in Malta a sleepy and restful time? Yes, but for the active, filled with activities to attend and enjoy and there is always sea and sunshine for the more daring in generally good weather!
