The ‘pasturi' that come out with the crib, the ‘Priedka tat-Tifel', midnight mass, turkey lunches that go well into dinner time, and all the Christmas markets and villages that sprout out at this time of the year, are an influence of the Roman Catholic church and its folk traditions.
Walking down the Sliema or Valletta Main Streets the mood is already celebratory, but way back Christmas was celebrated in a quieter fashion. Speak to anyone over 70 and listen to those simple tales for the real story Christmas stories that have never been told.
Our ancestors greeted the Nativity of Christ with much fervour. The Franciscan friars bought the creative presepju (crib) to Malta way back when they settled in Rabat in 1370 and since then the pious scene of Bethlehem has been recreated by new generations. Materials have ranged from papier mache, to clay, to wood and fibre glass. Today our main traffic arteries are marked with lighting cribs made out of illuminated plastic!
Way back in time, churches were bedecked with decorations of red tapestry and flowers, and admittedly religion played a bigger role in the lives of the people. While the men were big on spreading the tale of Baby Jesus on the village streets, the women preferred their ‘kenur' and lace making.
Though a lot of things have changed, Christmas is still a time when extended families get together to tell stories. Tales of yore and folklore seem too simple, as today's children ask pertinent questions which leave adults struggling for answers. A six year old child wants to know why, being so wise, the Magi never used Google Earth to find their way to the manger. They might also question why they brought Jesus luxury gifts when he probably would have preferred some milk.
Rewriting old tales without diluting the essence of the moral can be quite a challenge. The trick here is to let the children narrate the stories and with their 21st century take on things this can be quite amusing to the elders.
In one of her letters to Jesus, a young five year old girl asked, "can you exchange the baby you gave us in the hospital last week. She cries a lot and keeps mom awake. And I don't get breakfast on time and get late for school!"
Another girl who appeared in a live telecast on BBC was asked how Joseph and Mary brought baby Jesus into the world and how they managed to bypass King Herod who was waiting to kill the Saviour infant. According to the child, ‘Mary got a text message on her unlisted cell number. This gave them enough time to move to a safer manger! Then the couple migrated to Egypt, they knew they were able to bring up the child who would become the saviour and healer of the world.'
Another new version of the same story was told by an 8 year old who lives in London. According to this child ‘Mary was engaged to Joseph - a billionaire from the West End. It took her sometime to marry him. Then an angel revealed to her in a dream that she would become the mother of a Saviour, so she married him. The British PM confirmed the revelation and Jesus was born in secrecy, away from terrorists, to save us from them!'
Whether you're a believer or not, whether you're an ancient grandpa or little 6 year old Suzie, your best bet is to wish everyone the great joys of the season and hope for tomorrow, because in the final analysis this what Christmas is about.