Cribs are made with recycled materials such as cork, papier mâché and cloth.

A Christmas crib exhibition which has been held for 30 years at the church dedicated to St Francis, in Valletta, has moved to Teatru Rjal, as the church is currently undergoing refurbishment work.

The exhibition, organised by the Għaqda Ħbieb tal-Presepju (Friends of the Crib), has been embraced by the local community.

In November 2018, European enthusiasts of the Christmas traditions will also be meeting  in Valletta at the first European convention for crib-makers.

Speaking to the Times of Malta, Friends of the Crib spokesman Charles Bellia said cribs first appeared in Malta during the 17th century. The first recorded crib, which dates back to 1862, can still be found at the Mdina monastery for Benedictine nuns.

Over 40 cribs are on display at Teatru Rjal, all of which took anywhere between a few hours and days to make.

Mr Bellia said that the cribs are made with recycled materials such as cork, papier mâché and cloth.

“By using material lying around the house, we’re encouraging the trend to recycle when making cribs,” Mr Bellia said.

Cribs have their own distinct style, he added. They either draw inspiration from the Bible or adopt the style of Neapolitan cribs, which feature characters ranging from the traditional three kings to celebrities like Cristiano Ronaldo.

“The Maltese crib is an eclectic mix of styles, but is mainly influenced by the Sicilian tradition,” Mr Bellia noted.

Nevertheless, the Maltese crib has a distinct character and can feature local windmills, villagers and għannejja (folk singers) surrounding the Holy Family.

Over 40 cribs are on display.