A variant of the Cinderella tale, as told from generation to generation in Gozo, has inspired an exhibition currently behind held in Victoria.

The Maltese Cinderella and Her Sisters focuses on the story of Il-Germudija (the sooty one), which art historian and social anthropologist Veronica Veen captured in a 2017 book about women’s storytelling tradition.

A painting of Cinderella by pre-Raphaelite painter John Everest Millais, dated circa 1881.

Dr Veen spent several years studying how oral tales reflect the customs and values of societies. In 1992, during her fieldwork in Gozo, she learned of the above tale from a member of a dying family of storytellers, a certain Marija from Xewkija. 

Dr Veen could not trace the exact origins of the tale but believes it goes back to, at least, the late 18th century. The protagonist is a young, poor Gozitan girl who is sent to work as a maid at the home of a rich family in Malta. 

There she falls in love with the handsome son of the owner. When the time comes for him to marry, his father sets up a maypole or ‘ġostra’ at the end of which are three nuts, magically containing three beautiful ‘cosmic’ dresses, representing the sea and its fish, the land and its greenery, and the sky full of stars. 

The one who manages to get all the nuts will get the engagement ring. 

It’s easy to guess who will be the lucky one. Il-Germudija thus marries the rich, young man, becoming the mistress of the house and eventually its owner. 

The late Marija of Xewkija was a member of a long-line of notable storytellers.

“Every narrative works with symbols. They reflect the virtues of the time and also perennial concerns, with the stepfamily being one of them,” Dr Veen says. 

“Remember, fairy tales were not initially meant for children,” she adds, referring to French author Charles Perrault (1628-1703), who is said to have laid the foundations for this literary genre.

Perrault’s most popular stories include Cendrillon or Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, Sleeping Beauty and Bluebeard, all works derived from earlier folk tales. 

Similarly, the German Brothers Grimm helped popularise traditional oral tales, including Cinderella, the Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Snow White in the 19th century.

Dr Veen is certain Il-Germudija can easily compete with the works of these authors on various levels. At the pink-tinged exhibition, one can find various objects related to their stories and to the Gozitan tale. 

There is also plenty of Disney memorabilia as the film production company adapted many fairy tales to the big screen, both as animation or live action.

Disney’s heroines have changed a lot over the years, reflecting the sensibilities of the time

Dr Veen, who describes herself as a feminist, points out that Disney’s heroines have changed a lot over the years, reflecting the sensibilities of the time.

“One can note, for example, a big difference between Cinderella and Anna from Frozen, with female characters becoming increasingly courageous,” she said.

Dutch and Flemish children were presented with ‘catchpenny-prints’ from 1650 onwards. This one from 1820 tells Perrault’s Cendrillon tale in 12 primitive, hand-coloured woodcuts.

The exhibition also includes sheets with snippets from the story of Il-Germudija, including a conversation between the girl and her Prince Charming.

A number of activities are being held as part of the exhibition, including workshops for schoolchildren, in which they are asked to create their own fairy tale, and lectures by Dr Veen on the storytelling tradition.

The Maltese Cinderella and Her Sisters runs at Il-Ħagar: Heart of Gozo Museum in St George’s Square, Victoria, until April 11. 

Opening hours: daily from 9am to 5pm. For more information, call the museum on 2155 7504.

Left: A girl is absorbed in reading fairy tales collected by the Grimm brothers in this hand-coloured lithograph by F. Geibel, circa 1850. Right: Belle’s dress from Beauty and the Beast is found in the ‘princess corner’ where young visitors can fit the dress, colour pictures or read a book.

Schoolchildren during one of the workshops held as part of the The Maltese Cinderella and Her Sisters exhibition.