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Michaela Muscat
A random word association would yield: Turkey, Santa Claus and mince pies for most Maltese families. For the other minority that has been integrated in Maltese societal fabric, Christmas is celebrated differently or not at all.
“Christmas day is not very special because we exchange presents on the first day of January and not on the 25 December in Bulgaria. We celebrate it on the 24 December,” says Georgina Dobrev, 20. Her family is Bulgarian and Christian Orthodox. “It’s very special for us so we never go out with friends, but we stay in with our family. The meal consists of a minimum of five dishes all laid out on the table for everyone to help themselves. It is possible to have more than five but it must always be an odd number.”
Georgina moved here when her father, former national football team coach Gencho Dobrev, came to Malta back in 1983. They celebrate both Catholic and Orthodox traditions, the Bulgarian feast being a tad more unique.
“The variety of dishes is meat-free. Last year we had soup with beans, rice wrapped up in vine leaves, pumpkin pie and several sweets including kompot which is similar to a syrup with pieces of fruit.” The Bulgarians are not restricted to these dishes but are free to potter around and invent any types of dishes that tickle their fancy.
“The one that is always necessary is this bread pitka. It is always made from scratch by the family and pieces of paper are placed inside the bread according to the number of people. It’s meant to bring luck. The pieces of paper have words such as: love, luck, even new car, inscribed on them and one coin is also included. The eldest of the family reads a prayer and then breaks the bread into as many pieces as there are people and leaves a piece for the house as well as animals. Everyone breaks his piece of bread and reads out their message. The person who finds the coin will be the lucky person of the year. That is when we finally start eating.”
For another pocket of Maltese, Christmas day is any day as other.
Jews follow their own calendar which is rich with religious festivals. This year Hanukkah, the festival of lights, falls on the 26 December, otherwise known as Boxing day. Neil Fenech, a 22-year-old university student, typically goes out partying with the rest of his friends of Christmas eve. But for Hanukkah he is more than pleased to spend time with his family.
His grandfather Abraham Ohayon came to Malta when he was a little boy with his Moroccan father and Portuguese mother. As Sephardic Orthodox Jews, meaning that they originated from the Iberian peninsula and other domains subject to Spanish rule, they take this “festival of lights” very seriously. They follow biblical food laws which mark them out as being Jewish. And as Jews they never mix meat and milk and don’t eat pork.
Nevertheless their extensive cuisine includes more than enough delicious fare, traditionally shared after prayers at the synagogue. “The Hanukkah has simple rituals performed during the eight days and nights of the holiday.” The exquisite Menorah, an eight-branched candelabrum, is the focal article of the feast.
“We recite three prayers on the first night before lighting the candle. Only one candle is lit, on the right-hand side of the Menorah on the first day. Then the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first and is lit first proceeding from left to right, and so on each night.” It is also customary but not obligatory for Jews to eat fried or baked foods, usually olive oil such as doughnuts.
Surprisingly, for Muslims - often portrayed as being at odds with Christians - they recognise the birth of Jesus as an event. They don’t celebrate Christmas yet they acknowledge Jesus as an important prophet, although not the son of God. Maruan is a Syrian businessman and devout Muslim who can always be found at the Mosque during his free time. “We close our schools because we respect Maltese traditions and also because we believe that Jesus was a minor prophet. We don’t have a feast or organise a huge meal but for us it’s a day of rest.”
And there are also others, who irrespective of their creed are unable to celebrate with their family or friends.
“It’s a hard time for prisoners,” says Fr Mark Montebello. “They have a psychological switch and they always look forward to the next day.”
A 90-minute concert is organised in the main division and they are allowed special foods. The prisoners cook their own meals so they would prepare special sweets for Christmas day. “This year Ira Losco and Joe Demicoli, with traditional folk singers, will be performing at the concert. The prison will be on high security alert at this time.”
mmuscat@mediatoday.com.mt
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