Joseph Calleja (Ed.) The Gozo Observer. The University of Malta – Gozo Campus. December 2013, Pp 42.
Three letters from a Ragusan archives, written by a teenager belonging to the Pluchinotta family of Sicilian gentry, have made it possible for Arnold Cassola to throw some light on the educational situation in Gozo towards the end of the 19th century as well as on the educational links between Gozo and Sicily.
Saverio Colombo Pluchinotta spent some time studying at the Jesuit-run Sacred Heart Seminary from where, in March and April 1890, he wrote to his father to express some of his worries and concerns. These included minor physical discomforts such as inflamed gums, the expectation of being given a watch with a gold chain, and permission to be allowed to smoke.
Prof. Cassola has carried out an interesting investigative research that puts the young Sicilian in the context of his time and age, even though he was really a very minor personality of little consequence, who, unfortunately, seems to have committed suicide at the age of 19. Still, every small snapshot of micro-history contributes to our awareness of the larger historical picture.
Prof. Cassola’s paper is the leading contribution in the latest issue of The Gozo Observer, the bi-annual journal of the Gozo Campus of the University of Malta. The publication has slowly established itself as the major means of disseminating research with a Gozo dimension.
In his editorial, Maurice Cauchi discusses the difficulties facing Gozitans who have to cross regularly for work, medical care, or other reasons. At a time when political parties seem to be falling over themselves in offering attractive, but extremely expensive, means to join the islands, Prof. Cauchi argues that what is needed is “a rapid, efficient, express service”. The cost of “a couple of express buses on the hour, every hour, during business hours, would be a pittance”.
Every small snapshot of micro-history contributes to our awareness of the larger historical picture
Prof. Cauchi also gives a statistical analysis of surnames as an indication of demographic changes in Gozo. Comparing data from the censuses for 1990 and 2011, the author shows that there has been quite a noticeable drift in the population of the various villages with the result that Gozo has become less homogeneous in the past 20 years. The most conservative settlements were Għajnsielem, Victoria and Nadur. The ones that witnessed the biggest variation in surnames were Fontana and Għasri.
This indicates a fair amount of social change owing to an influx of Maltese who are officially domiciled there for travel purposes and the growth of subsidised government housing that encourages young couples to find houses where available.
Anton F. Attard continues with the second part of his contribution on ‘The Woman in Gozitan Folklore’, which is indeed a valuable, wide-ranging record of many folk customs which have now died out or are in danger of doing so. This part concentrates on beliefs and traditions regarding birth and infancy, the woman in traditional work and crafts, betrothal and marriage, death, funerals and folk medicine.
Some traditions come from very small communities and as such it is vital that they are put on a permanent record before they are lost forever in our modern world.
Geoffrey G. Attard writes about the picturesque Gozitan village of Żebbuġ and its titular statue of the Assumption, which last year celebrated the 150th anniversary since it was brought over from Marseilles. Last year the parish celebrated the 325th anniversary of its erection.
Mario Saliba, a member of the Malta College of Family Doctors and a sport diving referee, writes about the creation and management of artificial wrecks which have contributed a lot to making Gozo one of the prime diving sites in the Mediterranean.
The creation of these artificial wrecks has been successful both from an economic and environmental point of view but the author expresses his pressing desire for a scientific study of these artificial reefs and for their management, especially where conflicting interests may be hard to reconcile.
Marcelle Vella, a personal and social development (PSD) teacher who also facilitates PSD sessions in primary schools in Gozo, writes about how emotional literacy can be enhanced through PSD.
Emotional literacy is the ability to recognise, understand, and express human emotions, a need that is ever-increasing as it helps to lay the foundation for a better society in a world where impersonal technology often supplants the human element.
Joseph Calleja, the editor of the journal, rounds up this issue with a brief account of recent activities.
The Gozo Observer is distributed free to interested readers. To obtain a copy, write to the University of Malta – Gozo Campus, Mġarr Road, Xewkija XWK 9016.