A record of more than 21,000 people visited Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem last weekend, the organisers said.
They said visitors could enjoy the traditional and new attractions at the nativity village which included a local crafts area with a section dedicated to mosaic, a fisherman’s port and a 100-foot over a river. Trips on a Maltese boat could be taken on the river.
Other traditional attractions included the bakery, the blacksmith, the carpenter, the wine tavern, the open air market and the Inn.
But the main attraction remained the grotto where baby Jesus rested in the caring hands of Mary as Joseph, a donkey and a cow looked on.
A delegation from Ghajnsielem will now be leaving Malta for Revine Lago in north Italy from where “the Three Kings” will depart on their way to the grotto.
Revine Lago, a small town with a population of about 2,500 near Venice, has several similarities with Għajnsielem including a large live crib.
The three kings will arrive in Malta at around 11am on Thursday. Their first stop will be at Mater Dei where they will visit the Children’s and the Elderly wards. The children are being encouraged to write a letter or a prayer to five to the Kings to present to baby Jesus during their visit on Sunday.
On Sunday, the Kings will leave Manikata on horseback at around 9.30am. They will stop at the elderly people’s home ‘Dar il-Madonna’ at around 10am. During a reenactment in the main square of Mellieha at 11am, Herod will ask them to leave to find Jesus.
They will board the 2.15pm ferry and make their triumphal entrance at Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem at around 3.30pm where they will present their gifts to baby Jesus.
Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem event is organised by the Ghajnsielem council in collaboration with the Gozo Ministry and the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem organising commitee.