Eighty percent of the Christmas decorations used to bring out the festive feel at Auberge de Castille are recycled items.

Corks, flattened beer and soft drink cans, old newspapers and sawdust make the base for most of the large baubles that the decor at Castille comprises. Aleppo pines (prinjol) and dried leaves that were used to make the arrangements were collected from Girgenti after they fell from the trees. The Christmas tree itself is recycled. It is a dry tree with baubles and LED lights hung on the dry branches.

All the decorations were created and sprayed in gold and maroon by the maintenance staff at Castille.

However, the main attraction is most definitely the crib which has raised quite a few eyebrows, for its originality more than anything else. The crib, which was created over the span of 14 years by the cloister nuns of St Ursola Monastery in Valletta, was built by using things that are usually thrown away after being used. Even the most important figure in a crib - Baby Jesus - is a recycled item. It is a doll with no arms and no legs that is wrapped in a piece of cloth. The halo is made of the lid of a large coffee tin. Among other items that were used are cards, empty match boxes, walnut shells and egg cartons.

The crib is open for public viewing until Sunday January 4 on weekdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to noon and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Monday December 22 and Christmas day there won't be public viewing.