Christmas lights go on in Valletta
The Christmas lights in Republic Street were switched on this evening by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
The decorations were planned by the Republic Street Business Community Association.
The lights in Merchants' Street go on this Saturday.
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27 Comments
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Norbert Bugeja
Nov 25th 2010, 08:27
@Mars Cutajar
When you do something you get different opinions people might like and people might not like...The trees are beautiful good job .... doesn't matter if the decoration was used in Champs-Élysées if people don't like it they simply have the right to express themselves just like the others who like it...
Santa Clause
Nov 24th 2010, 13:57
Ho Ho Ho.....is that a runway I see down there?...maybe someone changed my landing place near the Christmas Tree where I usually used to land....now I see a quarry instead...
No No No....I`m afraid to land there with all those canons facing upwards :-0
MARS CUTAJAR
Nov 24th 2010, 13:51
It is amazing how whatever is done has to be followed with negative critisim from maltese citizens. I happened to be one of the people working on the installation for the past four days which saw us working till the early hours of the morning to see all ready on time... Besides the fact that in various foreign countries like Champs-Élysées in France are decorated in this manner, i must say that all the foreigners passing by Republic Street in the past four days were amazed with such decorations and had only words of praise. This has nothing to do with belief or not....
Helga Cutajar
Nov 24th 2010, 14:39
Mars, we are in a country were change is not much appreciated maybe that is why Malta has not improved
Moreover art is not really appreciated instead of encouraging artist we demoralise them.
Well done Mars for the effort and for the hard work. You put your utmost in what you believe and thats the most important thing.
Thank you for giving a change to the usual boring lights.
Yanov Cutajar
Nov 24th 2010, 19:07
Don't let the complainers let you down, as I said in a previous comment, it's simple, modern, clean, and beautiful. I love the warm feeling the scenery gives. Keep it up.
J Gatt
Nov 24th 2010, 12:12
Kummenti ta' tmaqdir biss tara! Ara li kieku kienet xi haga ghamluha barra minn Malta kemm konna nfahhruhom!!!
Olive Paul
Nov 24th 2010, 12:08
ARM-CHAIR CRITIC - The exact wording to define most of the comments hereunder.
I like everything about these Christmas decorations. It's good to see how many readers pen down their imaginations to the works of great artists. Pity none of them were given the opportunity to decorate Republic street themselves being so good in their criticism.
Well, whilst I congratulate with the designers for their input, I thank the government for such an initiative and for getting the society into the Christmas celebrations mood especially those that will be spending christmas lonely or in any other negative mode.
Its nice, simple and very modern and hopefully won't get easily stolen as it always happens with the cribs.
I celebrate Christmas for the birth of Jesus ONLY . Bright decorations won't take such a special occasion away.
Stop being so negative - at least during these festive seasons and appreciate what we all have around us.
R. Saliba
Nov 24th 2010, 10:16
@ Yanov and others who don't wish to believe.
Christmas is about Jesus and His message to spreading good-will to all mankind.
I'm certainly no preacher and have my shares of faults like everyone else, but I do aim to bring up my kids in a world where Christmas means something more than just presents and holidays.
So... will we be seeing a crib somewhere in Valletta?
Or just sleek, modern, culture-less decorations that mean nothing?
Paul Calleja
Nov 24th 2010, 10:14
Minix daqshekk zaghzugh jien u forsi ma napprezzax bizzejjed il-modernita, imma din id-darba ma laqtuni xejn. Ghaddejt mill-Belt il-bierah filghodu, igifieri ma rajthomx mixghula, imma filghodu hsibt li kien jonqos xi haga.
Ta strada merkanti ghogbuni aktar.
A Abela
Nov 24th 2010, 08:48
Did the importer of a particular brand of whisky, the label of which looks like the Christmas decorations contributed to the expenses?
laura
Nov 24th 2010, 09:18
madoff kemm tgergru !! ghidu darba sabih u mhux dejjem tridu taraw xser tghidu kontra....
Claire Busuttil
Nov 24th 2010, 08:22
It is good to be modern however it still needs to look good. I am sorry but these decorations do look like rolls of toilet paper decorated like a Red Label whiskey bottle. Nothing like the loights there used to be in Republic street like the ones with snow flakes or Angels etc
Norbert Bugeja
Nov 24th 2010, 08:04
I like the trees effect....really good but...didn't like much the other decoration looks like a lit up used toilet paper roll
Colin Schembri
Nov 24th 2010, 08:01
Ahlu!!! ma nafx ghalfejn din l-ghaggla kollha biex jinxtelu d-dwal tal-milied meta ghadna f'novembru. Imbad m'hawx flus ghal hekk u m'hawx flus ghalhekk...le le kollox fuq ir-rubini miexi.
J Gatt
Nov 24th 2010, 10:37
Taf li xahar iehor il-Milied siehbi?! Jekk ma tridx tara dwal mur go foresta ghalik wahdek u oqghod gerger u maqdar max-xadini!
smifsud
Nov 24th 2010, 03:10
Valletta the most beautiful city to meeee,,,,,amazing ambience and good feel Valletta has ...great job to the creators and organizers...thank you ...
Karl Consiglio
Nov 23rd 2010, 23:31
Nothing like a Finance Minister to trigger off the Christmas spirit.
Juanita Cassar
Nov 23rd 2010, 22:06
Happy birthday Jesus.
RIP good taste.
Yanov Cutajar
Nov 24th 2010, 07:52
Its modern. It's simple. It's beautiful.
And Christmas is hardly about Jesus anymore anyways. You may not like it, but it's a fact.
eyefordetail
Nov 24th 2010, 08:08
Agreed...lacks of beautiful colours...that`s what the children like to see not sleek designs to be modern...next year maybe we will have Christmas trees hanging upside down to be original...Christmas is Baby Jesus in a crib (1st) then other material things but brighten up Christmas are colourful Christmas trees, Santa Clause, Nut Cracker, Candy sticks, "snowman" etc...the traditional way is the best.....anyway...tastes!!!
Mark Galea
Nov 24th 2010, 08:16
What a sad Christmas you must have, Yanov. Christmas IS about Jesus, whether YOU like it or not.
Alfred Debono
Nov 24th 2010, 08:23
Yanov Cutajar, if Christ is out of fashion from Christmas, what are the people celebrating? Christ is still alive and living in several persons who radiate goodwill, peace, altruism, and many other positive actions. If you want to celebrate christmas without Christ, you can do it any day of the year.
Chris u Marouska Bonnici
Nov 24th 2010, 08:59
Jekk ninsew li l-Milied huwa l-jum solenni li fih niftakru li twieled DAK li gie biex isalvana u jifdina, inkunu tlifna kull skop u ghan tat-tifsira tieghu. L-anzjani taghna jghidu "kemm konna ahjar meta konna aghar", u nahseb li ghalkemm ma niftakarx dak iz-zmien, sa certu punt (mhux f'kollox), ghandhom ragun. Kienu jiehdu gost bis-semplicita`, u wara kollox jaghtu l-prijoritajiet kif jixraq
Juanita Cassar
Nov 24th 2010, 09:21
I have nothing against modern decorations, it's just that these are kitsch in the worst possible sense of the word.
J. Scerri
Nov 24th 2010, 09:58
@ Mark Galea
Did you by any chance still believe in Santa Clause, the Elves, the Reindeers & Frosty the Snowman too ??
@ Alfred Debono
In fact that's what I do. The reason is that I don't see why I have to add more HYPOCRISITY than there's around us in this particular period. Or you believe that everyone that give you his/her wishes, they really mean it ??
Yanov Cutajar
Nov 24th 2010, 10:28
Before you lot go accusing me of being athiest and having a sad Christmas or what not, I was simply stating a fact, not expressing my beliefs on Christmas. It's all about Santa Claus, presents, Christmas Trees, mistletoes, hollies, it has been for a while now. Same thing goes for Easter, it's not about the resurrection of Jesus anymore, but the Easter Bunny and chocolate eggs. Same goes for Halloween, it's not about evil spirits and that hocus pocus, it's about kids dressing up and going around trick or treating. Open your eyes people. A lot of people bring feastive holidays as an excuse to be happy and to spend money and celebrate, whether they are religious or not. I'm not saying it makes sense, it's just a fact. Heck, you might even say the same thing for village feasts, what exactly do fireworks have anything to do with the Saint they are supposedly adoring? Just saying. Season's Greetings everyone. :)
monica muscat
Nov 23rd 2010, 21:11
Just this morning, walking down Republic Street, I was wandering what will the street be like when the lights go on. This very evening I was one of many who saw the lights as they went on.
A few comments. I liked the idea of ground level decorations instead of central hanging ones. I loved the white lighted trees but think they will probably not last thru the Christmas period if we get some windy weather. I think they are too fragile. As for the golden tube-like decorations, I think they do not mix in well with the rest. Besides, they are much too massive and poorly decorated. Why not fix some beautiful Christmas motives on the "empty spaces"?
And mentioning Christmas - Are we again going to do without a street Crib in our Capital? The subject was brought up a couple of weeks ago. I heard or read no follow-up comments. But please, make an effort and bring back a little of the true Christmas Spirit! Or are we afraid of scaring away some tourists who are "offended" by our real Christian sentiments. You find street cribs in all European Capital Cities! Why not in Malta?