Maltese traditions: the Christmas crib

Uncover the most famous of Maltese traditions...

Crèches, nativities, or cribs — whatever your preferred nomenclature, there’s no doubt that these advent-themed displays play a major part in Christmas celebrations all over the world. And yet, the true masters of the Christmas crib are undoubtedly the Maltese. Found on every street corner across the city, these nativity scenes are among the most popular and important Maltese traditions.

Presepju

The Christmas crib’s origins can be traced directly back to the early 17th century when Dominican friars in Rabat set up their own, local crib display. A tradition imported from neighbouring Naples and Sicily, the very first cribs were supposedly imported by noblemen, though they weren’t immediately embraced by locals; rumour has it they were burned as firewood. But despite that failing vote of confidence, it didn’t take long for the tradition to take root, and for the cribs to adopt their own, uniquely local appearance.

Visually, the Maltese presepju differs from generic nativity scenes in their depictions of the Maltese landscape. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus may be found within a manger, but here it’s surrounded by rocky stones, porous caves, Maltese flour windmills, and ancient ruins — all signifiers of the traditional Maltese landscape, in other words. Aside from the setting, the figurines in the cribs, called pasturi, were also traditional, and produced by Maltese artisans out of sculpted and painted clay.

Imbuljuta tal-Qastan

While no Christmas in Malta would be complete without meandering amongst these elaborate displays, the small island is also home to several other offbeat traditions that travellers should do their best to discover. On Christmas Eve, for instance, a sweet “soup” of chocolate, chestnuts, and orange peel known as Imbuljuta tal-Qastan is enjoyed after the Midnight Mass. The Christmas Eve procession that takes to Malta’s streets — with a life-sized baby Jesus — is another colourful local tradition, while the Maltese “Sermon of the Child” sees pint-sized speakers address those attending Midnight Mass. But among these Maltese traditions, few are as ancient and beloved as the Christmas crib. Keep an eye out if you’re visiting during the advent — it shouldn’t be long before you spot one.

Inquisitor’s Palace

To begin, wander into almost any church across the country, and you’re bound to uncover a Christmas crib. The local “Friends of the Crib Society,” meanwhile, stages a major annual exhibition, which this year will be held from 5th to 21st December at St Francis Church Hall on Melita Street in Valletta. Comprising roughly 100 different traditional cribs made from all kinds of diverse materials, it’s the ideal entry into this unusual tradition. The National Museum of Ethnography at the Inquisitor’s Palace in Vittoriosa is also home to a permanent crib installation, and for those who like their cribs super-sized, the Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem is an annual, live nativity scene that turns part of Gozo into a full, biblically inspired village.