To us octogenarians in the ancient city of Vittoriosa, L- Istrina was a happy occasion on January 1, when, with a money box in hand, we expected parents, relatives and close friends to give us a hefty monetary gift.
A noble gesture initiated by Peppi Azzopardi some years ago changed the former calendar date of L-Istrina to December 26, known to us fittingly as Boxing Day, when the Maltese people generously and disinterestedly top up the money boxes of the Community Chest Fund set up for the welfare of all citizens.
The power of charity, to use St Paul’s words, “can move mountains”.