The Ghaqda Hbieb tal-Presepju is holding its annual crib exhibition consisting of about 70 cribs at St Francis Hall, Melita Street, Valletta, till Thursday. Opening hours are daily from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4.30 to 7.30 p.m.
The 12th May Band is giving a Christmas concert in the Agira Hall of the band club, St Philip Palace, Sciortino Street, Zebbug, on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m. The band will also play marches in the streets of Zebbug on Sunday at 10 a.m.
An exhibition of wax statues of Baby Jesus, some more than 300 years old, is being held in the top hall of the Xara Palace, the headquarters of the L'Isle Adam Band Club, St Paul Street, Rabat, till December 21. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 5.30 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 to noon and 3.30 to 6.30 p.m.
The society is hosting a Christmas party for children aged between three and 12 years, including a puppet show, dancing, and singing, at the hall on Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Tickets at Lm2.50. Bookings can be made through the bar and lotto stand at the band club.
The L'Isle Adam Band will play marches in the main streets of Rabat on Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon. A dinner dance will be held on December 31 at 8.30 p.m. For bookings call 2145-4538 or after 6 p.m. on 2145-1407.
An exhibition titled Bethlehem Experience, including Nativity scenes, put on by the Catholic Action of Senglea in collaboration with the Eden Foundation, is being held at the Catholic Action headquarters in Senglea till December 25 between 5.30 and 10.30 p.m.
The Art Club 2000 is holding a crib exhibition and competition at 14A, St Publius Street, Mellieha, till December 29. The exhibition will be open Monday to Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon and 6 to 9 p.m. For more information call 2152-5651 or 2152-3774.
The National Folklore Commission is organising street decorations and crib competitions. The former are being held in Palm Street, Antoine de Paule Square, and Tarxien Road, Paola; Triq il-Habbiez, Qormi, Antonio Bosio Street, Msida; Main Street, Zurrieq; Birzebbuga Street, Birzebbuga; and Carmelites Street, Fgura. The decorations will be lit till January 1. The following are cribs entered for the competitions in the different localities:
Static cribs in
Balzan:
By Rosalino and Ignatius Saliba, La Rosa Mansions, Garage C, Good Shepherd Avenue;
Birkirkara: By Alfred Muscat, 26, Main Street; Franklyn Pace, 71, Main Street.
Luqa: By Joseph Theuma, 17, Wesghet il-Vittmi tal-Gwerra; Charles Attard, St Andrew Band Club; Sandro Farrugia, Union Band Club; Charlie Gauci, Joseph Theuma, Jospeh Magri, Sandro Farrugia, and Joseph Magri, Union Band Club, St Andrew Palace, St Andrew Street; Gabriel Rosario Zammit, St Andrew Band Club.
Mosta: By Joseph Sammut, Nicolò Isouard Band Club; John and Mary Mifsud, Dione Schembri, Govan Muscat, Jospeh Parnis, Lawrence Gatt, Frankie Pavia, and Mario Camilleri, Razzett Markiz Mallia Tabone, Triq Wied il-Ghasel; Raymond Deguara, Nicolò Isouard Band Club, 204, Main Street; Joseph Abela, Rotunda Square (near the Mosta church); Lawrence Gatt, City Bar, Main Street, Raymond Deguara, Nicolò Isouard Band Club, 204, Main Street.
Naxxar: By John Aquilina, 22, Rose Garage, 21st September Avenue.
Qormi: By Charles Saliba, Charles Borg and Justin Formosa, Pinto Band Club, 27, St Roque Street.
Sliema: Adrian Busuttil, Balluta Furniture Store, Tower Road; Stephen Cilia, 206, Manuel Dimech Street.
Tarxien: By Emanuel Axiaq, "Ghimmanu-El", Karlu Maretta Street; William Hannaford, Garage No. 1, Church Street.
Mechanical crib in Birzebbuga: by Johan Briffa, St Peter Band Club, 13, Birzebbuga Road.
Live crib in Burmarrad: by John Mary Deguara, Ghajn Rihana.
Other cribs
Mario and Charlie Grech are exhibiting a static crib in St Roque Street, Birkirkara, till January 1. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 5.30 to 8 p.m. and Sundays and feast days from 9.30 a.m. to noon and 4 to 8 p.m. For group bookings call 2149-2568 or 9948-9058.
Fredu Muscat is displaying a static crib at 56, Main Street, Birkirkara, till January 1. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from, 4 to 8.30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to noon and 4 to 8.30 p.m.
Franklyn Pace is displaying a crib at 71, Main Street, Birkirkara, till January 3, weekdays from 5 to 8.15 p.m., and Saturdays, Sundays and feast days from 9.30 a.m. to noon and 5 to 8.15 p.m.
Rosalino and Ignatius Saliba are displaying around 30 cribs at La Rosa Mansions, Garage C, Good Shepherd Avenue, Balzan, till January 6. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m., Sundays and public holidays from 10 a.m. to noon and 5 to 8 p.m.
Raymond Cassar is displaying a mechanical crib at 88, Evergreen, Triq is-Saghtar, on weekdays from 5.30 to 8.30 p.m. and weekends and public holidays from 9 a.m. to noon and 3 to 8.30 p.m.
Activities in Gozo
The Ghaqda Hbieb tal-Presepju of Gozo is organising an exhibition of a large selection of cribs at the exhibition hall of the Ministry for Gozo, Victoria, from today till December 31 during office hours.
As part of the Christmastide celebrations, displays of static and mechanical cribs are being held in various localities around the island between December 20 and January 2 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Static cribs in
Fontana: By John Theuma, parish centre, Fontana Road.
Ghajnsielem: By Herman Mifsud, "Malverno", Madonna of Loreto Square; Paul Stellini, parish centre, J. de Chambrai Street.
Ghasri: By Anthony Sammut, MUSEUM, Church Street.
Munxar: By Roberto Curmi, parish centre, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Street; Stephen Tabone, "Massabielle", Triq Tarsu.
Nadur: By Joseph Curmi, Mnarja band club, December 13 Street; Rev. Carmel Portelli, parish centre, April 28, 1688, Square; Adonai Camilleri Cauchi, "Liberty", 11, North Street; Anton Mercieca, Boys' MUSEUM, Dun Gorg Preca Street.
Qala: Anthony Mizzi, Boys' MUSEUM, 7, St Joseph Street.
Santa Lucija: By Joe Mizzi, 29, Triq Bir-Rix.
Victoria: George Mizzi, Don Bosco Oratory, St Augustine Square; George Debono, Capuchins church parvis, Capuchins Street; Manwel Grech, 59, Capuchins Street; Samuel Sillato, "Corfu", Enrico Mizzi Street; George Francis Vella, 39, St George Square; George J. Cassar, 73, Enrico Mizzi Street.
Xaghra: By Joseph Anthony Hill, Vocation Centre, Guzeppi Rapa Street; Victor Agius, Ggantija Art Gallery, John Otto Bayer Street; Joseph Attard, Boys' MUSEUM, Dar Dun Gorg, Dun Gorg Preca Street, Victor Zammit, Victory Band Club, Victory Street.
Xewkija: By Bennie Mercieca, Dun Gorg Preca Boys' MUSEUM, Triq Hamsin; Michael Gatt, parish centre, St John the Baptist Square.
Zebbug: By David Xuereb, Arjuza, Triq Ghajn Mhelhel.
Mechanical cribs in
Fontana: By Frank Mizzi, 288, Triq il-Ghajn.
Munxar: By Joseph Schembri, 'Evergreen', Madonna of Mount Carmel Street.
Qala: By Anthony Bajada, 3, Ganni Vella Street.
Victoria: By John M. Cassar, 'La Colomba', Triq il-Belliegha; Joshua Zammit, 'Julmar Palace', Kercem Street; Noel and Joseph Attard, 'Rustica', Triq Saghtar; Silvio Grima and Toni Said, St Francis Convent, St Francis Square.
Xaghra: By Joseph Attard, Dun Gorg Preca Boys' MUSEUM, Dun Gorg Preca Street; Aaron Agius, 'Arwil', Ramla Court, Gajdoru; Joe Theuma, Jesus of Nazareth church.
Xewkija: By Reno Rapa, Precursor Band Club, St Catherine Street.
Zebbug: Anthony Portelli, 'Godem House' Ghemelel Street.
Traditional pageants and processions, with the participation of local bands and carol singing by choirs, are being held in the various villages on Sunday from 7 p.m. onwards.
The Guiding Light socio-religious group of Xaghra is organising a live nativity scene U Ghammar Fostna in Mannar Street (near the Jesus of Nazareth church), Xaghra. Opening hours are December 24 after the procession, December 25 from 3 to 9 p.m., December 26 from 6 to 9 p.m., December 29 and 30 from 6 to 9 p.m., December 31 from 3 to 6 p.m., and January 1 from 3 to 9 p.m.
A Christmas song festival is being held on the Xaghra church parvis on December 29 at 7 p.m.
The Nadur Boys' Museum Section is holding a grand Christmas concert at Don Bosco Oratory Hall, Victoria, on December 30 at 7.30 p.m.