... bells and fireworks

Acknowledgements to Jeremy Boissevain for the similarity of the title to his famous anthropological work Saints And Fireworks, published way back in the 1960s, I believe. And, incidentally, I had the pleasure of working with Prof. Boissevain as a young history student in the 1970s, researching local newspapers for one of his works. If I remember rightly my contact with the professor was Mark Miceli Farrugia, currently Malta's Ambassador to Washington. But there we go, revealing the years that are passing by us, or, probably, going over us.

Saints And Fireworks was a revealing work, exposing the fanaticism of us Maltese over our (exactly) saints and fireworks. It's great to be religious, to be devote, to adore our various saints, to participate in the annual village feast and so on and so forth and, of course, to manufacture fireworks. I did write once that our culture in this area smacks of paganism. Perhaps I was exaggerating but I doubt it is far off.

The truth is (and this is relevant as the summer religious festive season is fast approaching) that gulping beer (admittedly, an activity I have participated in on rare occasions), soaking oneself in ones own perspiration and throwing bottles at supporters of opposing band clubs is not exactly religious or devote. However, this is also part of our folklore or, indeed, our anthropology.

It all owes its original existence to times when the village feast was the only occasion (and only annually, mind you) when there is some sort of a celebration. When mums could put on their best dresses and jewellery and dad his best suit (the latter at least for the procession - not the "march") and then move out to the festivities - mum on a door step, of course, and dad at the local coffee-cum-beer/wine bar. The younger generation - teenagers at the least - would be allowed to stay out, say, till nine o'clock, as a special treat.

It is now fascinating that disco parties are being organised at band, political and other social clubs after the morning band march. Why? Because the teenagers of today go to a disco every week of the year. They do not need to wait for the village feast any more. And, sanctimonious as I am, I think this is the limit. But enough of saints and saint-related matters, and on to bells.

The first idea that comes to mind regarding (and I apologise for any perceived vulgarity of sorts) is Dom Mintoff's famous scolding to dockyard workers - God knows when; the 1970s, 1980s? All terrible times - that they had no "boċċi tal-laħam", which I would loosely translate into meat bells, with a purposeful stress on the "e", of course. And it is really ironical that these meat bells have now reached their end and for this I am truly and sincerely sorry and would like to show solidarity with those who do not have a successful future, whether in retirement or employment.

There were very many, and I would say the majority, that were truly skilled and conscientious. But they allowed themselves to be manipulated into working in an environment that included the most violent element in the history of our country. They allowed themselves to be indoctrinated to accept the non-observance of proper work practices. They allowed themselves into being persuaded that clocking in late and clocking out early was fine, which meant depriving our country of millions and millions of liri.

Now, those who are unfortunately in a miserable state need to turn onto the man who said they had no meat bells and his erstwhile aristocratic successor and their allied union and tell them: "Thank you!" I would here like to quote the very industrious former Nationalist party treasurer, Peter Darmanin, who is quoted saying words to the effect that we must look forward to the future but never forget the past. Indeed, we must never forget the past. And I think it is now time to pay tribute to my late friend Furtu Selvatico, beaten both physically and psychologically by his supposed dockyard colleagues, because he fought vigorously for what was right.

But, finally, now briefly back to the real "metal" bells and the fireworks, which we started off with in the headline. It is good to see that there is now some control over the manufacturing and letting off of fireworks; although not enough. The fireworks themselves have been limited in terms of size and so strength and power, I suppose. We also seem to have some stricter regulation in terms of licences.

This all well and good. But what about the "factories", which are in the vicinity of residential areas, particularly that in Għargħur/ Madliena? Something has to be done about this problem also and with regard to bells. We have noted over the years the introduction of loudspeakers to "ring" church bells. It is a pity that, as we regularly read of new bells being installed or restored in church spires, bells are not rang "naturally" by professional bell ringers. This is a tradition that must be kept up.