Fiona Galea Debono
Horse-drawn hearses back from the dead
The next time you spot a somewhat eerie carriage, being drawn by black horses, clad in black feathers and a cloak, driven by a man in a black suit and top hat, don't be fooled into thinking it's a scene out of Dracula.
The chances are you will spot one on the roads some time soon. Horse-drawn carriage hearses were last seen on our streets some 40 years ago but an undertaker has dug up his collection and is breathing new life into them, following public demand. Louis Borg's resurrection of the horse-drawn hearses comes in the wake of the liberalisation of the motorised market, which led him to diversify, giving him the edge over double the competitors he had before.
But he does not want to create another monopoly and is willing to extend the service of his restored carriages to other undertakers everywhere if their clients ask for it.
In fact, he does not mind if he fails to make money "as long as I revive the tradition," he said, touring his Sliema garages, piled with carriage paraphernalia including papier-mâché angels and equestrian equipment.
All he wants is to unearth that sense of respect for the dead that comes with the carriages. On their first appearance after four decades last week, they commanded much reverence from the man in the street, Mr Borg pointed out.
"Everyone bowed their heads, made the sign of the cross, looked in awe and moved aside. Normally, when we use the cars, it could be any other vehicle on the road. Nobody gives way," he continued.
Mr Borg has been driving the dead for 30 years and had never experienced such a scenario, which he deems fit for a funeral.
Some of his carriages are up to 120 years old and, unlike other undertakers, who sold them overseas and stripped them when they stopped using them in 1970, the Borg family had the foresight to keep theirs in storage.
Now he is bringing back from the dead his first-class carriage (tal-kewba), which was used by "rich Sliema residents"; the prima and sekonda, which are for lower levels of society respectively, but equally elaborate to the fresh eye; and the white version for babies and single women.
The set comprises the priest's carriage, which would also transport the altar boy dressed as he would have back then and carrying the large cross, sticking out of the window as tradition would have it.
In a €60,000 investment, Mr Borg is restoring them to their original state, using nothing but antique items, even down to the bolts and buttons.
In two weeks, a set of four carriages should be rearing to go and the whole project should be complete in nine months, when the undertaker would be able to carry out three funerals of the sort simultaneously. It cost Mr Borg around €5,000 to restore the prima and €3,500 for the priest's carriage, which comes complete with an old bell to function as a horn in case a driver gets distracted.
"This did not exist in the original but at least it is old too," he said, determined to remain in the past. It still has the original number plate - 260 from 1901.
He is even buying rubber tyres from overseas to put round the wheels to reduce the noise and be able to drive into Mdina and Valletta.
In fact, he plans to drive the carriages everywhere, according to requests. "We can go from any church in the area to the cemetery but would probably drive by car from Mater Dei Hospital to avoid the hills," he said.
His first carriage funeral from Msida to the Naxxar cemetery took 25 minutes - only 10 minutes more than it would have by car - and ran smoothly, he said.
"I am using traffic police each time," he said. "But anyway, everyone just moves out of the way."
Between 1959 and 1970, the public had the option of the motorised and horse hearses but then the latter were buried because it was more comfortable for undertakers to turn the key in the ignition and drive off.
"I have been receiving requests for these carriages for the last 15 years, particularly from the elderly in the villages. Mercedes and Rolls Royce are nothing next to them in their view," Mr Borg said.
Despite the added hassles, the carriage funerals are expected to cost "only a bit more" than the common cars.
Mr Borg already has six horses in his extensive fleet and is buying more from overseas. Now, all he needs is the government to provide him with a hangar in the Marsa area, where he can display all the options for clients to make their death wish.
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victor pulis
Sep 22nd 2009, 23:24
I was still a young boy when the horse drawn hearse went out of service but I remember seeing one such funeral in Senglea. If I'm not mistaken the horses were black and bigger than the karozzin horses, more akin to the ones used by the police cavalry.
Marianna Galea Xuereb
Sep 22nd 2009, 18:41
Culture, art, business and retro apart, what about provisions to ensure that the horses do not litter the streets and roads with their smelly droppings? Is it not already bad enough that karozzini owners and horse riding enthusiasts are freely allowed to let their horses litter roads and streets at whim? Is it not bad enough that Maltese streets and pavements are still littered with dog shit despite laws stipulating that dog owners are to clean up after their pets? Is it not bad enough that cats are allowed to wander into peoples’ roofs and gardens and litter to their heart’s content because it seems that under Maltese Law one cannot sue the owner of a cat about such offences “ghax qattus regina”?
noel ciantar
Sep 22nd 2009, 16:55
So far people have been complaining that The Maltese Roads have too many potholes in them... Who is going to clear the horse droppings after a funeral? Or this is allready catered for in the permit?
Joseph Vassallo
Sep 22nd 2009, 15:40
A thing of (for want of a better word) beauty... but past its sell-by date, in my opinion, if it is intended that these vehicles are used on the open road; let's not forget that because they are equestrian, they are not subject to traffic regulations. Forty years ago there were some 40,00 vehicles in Malta if I remember correctly not the 300,000 we have today.
I had the misfortune of losing a young relative in the UK some time ago. The young lady's corpse was transported in a motor-driven hearse from the chapel of rest up to the precincts of the service chapel then transferred to a white horse-drawn hearse and covered the rest of the journey led by a walker carrying a mace of some sort. Maybe this could be seen as an alternative, because I do like the solemnity that the horse-drawn hearse seems to evoke from all and sundry.
C Penza
Sep 22nd 2009, 15:09
Although this is a good idea, one must not forget the horses that during the heat of Summer they have to pull these hearses in such heat and have to wait outside the church until mass has finished. Also it may be suggested that these type of hearses are used from the Church to the cemetery only and not for long distances.
Jessica DeBattista
Sep 22nd 2009, 15:07
This article brings to mind a little oil painting by the late artist, Frank Portelli. The painting shows a horse-drawn hearse moving sedately along a deserted lane in a cemetery. A line of cypress trees pierce an overcast sky, and a couple of graves add further emphasis to this sombre picture. The first and last time I had seen this painting, some twelve years ago, I had received a nostalgic pang for a lost tradition. Now it seems that the horsdrawn hearse is making a re-appearance. I am glad for I feel that such tansportation identifies and dignifies the last farewell of a dearly departed,
Raymond Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2009, 14:52
some comments show that for some people its cars, cars, cars,cars first, cars second cars third...the car has become their number one priority in life as if car users (me included) should have some special privileges! in modern countries (not backwaters like here) priorities are: pedestirans, cyclist, mopeds, motorcycles, public transport, cars and lastly heavy veichles...
Julie Peace
Sep 22nd 2009, 14:40
I work down the road from a funeral director in the UK. We often have the horse drawn hearse go past. They are a lovely sight to see, with their beautiful headresses and the coachman all dressed up. What a fitting end. Glad they are coming back to Malta
J. Tonna
Sep 22nd 2009, 11:54
It is true that these hearses may slow down traffic. But every funeral does that, however, I am sure this is not going to be a daily occurrence. ADT may order hearse owners not to be on the road at rush hours.
With the Editor’s permission I would like to add a little humour to this article. Some time ago a tourist in London hired a Taxi. On the way he wished to ask a question to the driver, so he touched his shoulder to attract his attention. On feeling someone touching him the driver lost control of the taxi and nearly smashed into a shop window.
Bewildered the tourist asked what happened. The driver explained that he was for 30 years a hearse driver and this was his first day as a taxi driver. Everybody will understand the rest of the story.
Joe Cordina
Sep 22nd 2009, 11:31
@ Lawrence Bonello, what you don't get is that the person making use of the carriage is in no hurry to get to his destination. i think that this is a marvellous idea and should be applauded.
Lawrence Bonello
Sep 22nd 2009, 11:00
@L.Galea
I do appreciate our heritage and I love reading about it and experiencing it through museum-visits, re-enactments etc. However, I tend to have a practical streak in me which doesn't enamour me to getting caught up in traffic just because someone chose to have his/her last trip in a horse-drawn carriage.
Its bad enough trying to get in or out of Valletta and ending up as the involuntary escort of some karozzin with all the fringe (or should I say, rear) "benefits" that they leave behind.
Or is that part of our heritage too?
Galea. L
Sep 22nd 2009, 10:31
Lawrence Bonello
You do not seem to appreciate our heritage.
They give a more solemn feel to the procession than modern cars.
Kevin Zammit
Sep 22nd 2009, 10:30
@Lawrence Bonello
I agree with you about the fouling ... but one more horse aint gonna harm anyone.
As for being caught behind one ... getting caught behind the car procession is no better anyways.
What we should do is get rid of those pointless self indulgent illigal serkinisti
Alfred Grech
Sep 22nd 2009, 10:06
Excellent idea. Too bad that when I use it I won't be able to enjoy it :-((
Lawrence Bonello
Sep 22nd 2009, 10:03
As if its not bad enough being caught behind karozzini and having them foul up the streets! Issa dawn jonqos!!
Why don't we get Majsi to light up our streets at night as well!? And once we're at it we can start buying milk from the goatherds as well!!
Lura flok il-quddiem sejrin!!