Posts Tagged ‘Betlehem’

  • A Christmas Nursery

    Even as a young child, Paul Pace was very fond of baby Jesus statues. Probably because they reminded him of a number of significant familial moments. His grandma gave him a small wax statue of baby Jesus in order to ease down his sorrow after his father George had to leave for a long time to work with the Navy. On another occasion, his father surprised him when he bought him an expensive statue of baby Jesus that he had longed for, after he succeeded to win a lottery. Now, at 69, Paul owns a collection of more than 2000 of such statues which he has lovingly gathered in a museum that he called ‘Il-Mużew tal-Bambini’.

    DSCN1966His wife Mary shares his passion and she is always present to give him a hand in this museum which they have purchased together.

    “It is such a pleasure to see people getting emotional when they visit our museum. Some become very nostalgic as they remember their childhood. Others notice some statue which was similar to the one that their parents had, and they start recalling their memories. A number of visitors get inspired to buy a baby Jesus statue of their own, while some others decide to go home and search for their neglected antique statue which their grandma had left them,” Paul said.

    Since its inauguration in 2010, il-Mużew tal-Bambini has become quite renowned both with the local and the foreign public. Although it is available for viewing by appointment throughout the year, most of the visitors attend to this museum during the Christmas season.

    “There is always something new to see because we are continually adding to our collection. Even though by now, we have a problem with space, when we find a particular baby Jesus statue which we love, we just can’t help not to own it,” admitted Mary.

    Certainly, the museum is a wonder to behold. The provenance of the statues is worldwide, thereby providing a rich overview of the different cultures. Skin colour, facial characteristics, and posture of these statues vary accordingly.

    DSCN1949A delicate looking baby Jesus which was made in Malta, rests in a musical box and moves his eyes and hands.  A dark skinned baby Jesus made from wood in Tanzania looks exotic amongst the others.  A curly black-haired toddler Jesus, wearing the traditional costume of Perù, sits on a chair and weeps after stepping on a thorn, according to a local legend. A wooden statue from Betlehem shows Jesus as a boy dressed as a king and sitting on an elegant throne. A teenage Jesus from Atocia is also resting on a chair, but this time, he wears the clothes of a pilgrim and carries a rod. An intricately adorned statue of Jesus from Trapani is embellished with pomegranate for good luck.

    “Our interest in this aspect has led us to travel to countries which are related to the life of Jesus, and from which we knew that we could find such statues. Our visit to the Holy Land was an incredible experience which gave us the opportunity to walk in the same roads where Jesus lived. Moreover, it was an ideal country from where to acquire some beautiful statues for our collection,” remarked Paul.

    “When we visited Prague, we bought 42 different baby Jesus statues!” exclaimed Mary.

    DSCN1942They just had to, they explained, as they saw my startled reaction. This was because according to an old tradition, the statue of baby Jesus in Prague is dressed in different coloured clothes each day. Therefore, they were bound to purchase a number of statues which showed Jesus in several dresses. Nevertheless, not all the statues bought ended up in the museum, since some of these were presents for family members and friends.

    “Many of those who visit our museum are curious to know whether we can remember all our statues, which of course, we do. We can also recall all the places from where we have obtained these items. Each statue has an interesting story behind it and we love to share them with whoever’s interested to listen,” Paul said.

    I was all ears and I felt simply fascinated when their narrative started to pour in. One of these stories entailed how they managed to buy a statue of baby Jesus which belonged to St. Ġorġ Preca. Another was related to an excellent bargain which Mary made unknowingly, when she bought a statue for her husband for a low price, and then found out that it dated to the 18th century. I loved also the account relating to a particular container made of mica which was produced in Malta by a German prisoner of war during World War II, and was utilized to hold a statue of baby Jesus.

    DSCN19321“We have many antique statues but the oldest one that we know the date of goes back to 1730. The smallest statue is about 15mm long, whereas the largest one has a length of 80cms. The materials of these statues varies widely and include: stone, alabaster, marble, woods of different kinds, wax, ceramic, concrete, lava, straw, plastic, wool, and even bull’s horn,” Mary explained.

    Yet the strangest was yet to come…

    “One day, we had a statue which lost its synthetic hair and we decided to try to replace it with some hair of one of our daughters. The experiment succeeded and soon, we provided the hair to a number of other statues by trimming some hair from our other daughter and eventually also from that of our nephews,” smiled Paul as he pointed them out proudly.

    Each time that I observed the statues, I noticed a different one which I had not seen before. The collection looked literally endless, and yet each statue was unique. Whilst some of the statues showed simple features, mostly due to the artistic fashion of the time, others were quite elaborate and pretty. Yet there were also a number of outstanding characters which stood out from the rest.

    DSCN1937“The main aim of this museum is to share the sweetness of Christmas and the joy which is inherent in each statue of baby Jesus,” revealed the couple.

    However, this place offers much more than that since it nurtures love for one’s family, whilst it cherishes an appreciation for diversity. Undoubtedly, this collection is also an invaluable source for those who are interested to study the changes which took place along the years in the production of such precious artworks.

    Il-Mużew tal-Bambini which is located at 17, Triq Santa Tereża, Birkirkara, will be open for the public from Sunday, 13th December 2015 to Wednesday, 6th January 2016.

    Opening times: Monday to Saturday from 4:30pm – 8:00pm, Sundays and Public Holidays from 9:00am – noon and from 4:30pm – 8:00pm. For more information, one can call 21492111.

    (This article was published in CHRISTMAS TIMES Suppliment issued with The Times of Malta dated 8th December 2015)

    2015.12.08 / no responses / Category: Times of Malta

  • Meta toħlom akbar

    Il-Bibbja tirrakkonta l-istagħġib tar-rgħajja meta waqt lejl tas-skiet, is-sema ddawwlet b’dawl mhux tas-soltu filwaqt li anġlu ħabbrilhom li kien twieled ir-Re li Alla kien wiegħed li ser jibgħat. Wieħed jista’ jimmaġina l-emozzjoni tagħhom hekk kif dawn ġrew lejn il-post indikat u hemm sabu lil Marija u lil Ġużeppi jbennu lil binhom Ġesù li kien għadu kif bexxaq għajnejh u lemaħ lid-dinja tagħna.

    Minn dak iż-żmien ‘l hawn kienu bosta l-popli li ttantaw joħolqu mill-ġdid din l-atmosfera mbierka u unika fil-ġranet ħelwin tal-Milied. Probabbilment il-bozoz tad-dawl żgħar u kkuluriti li nżejjnu diversi postijiet bihom, għandhom il-għan li jikkreaw mill-ġdid l-atmosfera tad-dwal li deheru fis-smewwiet f’dak il-lejl imqaddes, filwaqt li l-istatwa tal-bambin Ġesù tintuża bħala rappreżentazzjoni tat-tarbija divina.

    F’dawn il-ġranet naraw ukoll il-ħeġġa ta’ bosta individwi li jagħmlu minn kollox biex iqanqlu dik is-sensazzjoni antika ta’ stagħġib u ferħ li l-Milied biss kapaċi jġib miegħu. Ħafna minna, biex inferrħu lil xulxin, insibu ruħna niċċelebraw ir-ritwali li mxew minn ġenerazzjoni għall-oħra. Imma mbagħad issib ukoll lil min jaspira aktar minn hekk, issib lil dawk li jazzardaw joħolmu akbar, lil dawk li joħorġu l-barra mit-tradizzjoni sabiex b’azzjoni mhux tas-soltu, jerġgħu jqajjmu dik ix-xrara ta’ stagħġib u ferħ li mhux la kemm wieħed jinsa.

    George VellaWieħed minn dawn huwa bla dubju l-Kavallier George Vella, Żejtuni ta’ 80 sena li llum joqgħod Birkirkara, u li dil-ġimgħa stedinni għandu sabiex jirrakkuntali dwar tliet attivitajiet partikolari li hu flimkien ma’ sħabu ħarġu bihom fi żmien il-Milied tas-snin sittin. Qabel inġbarna fl-istudju tiegħu ħalli ngħarrxu fost il-ġabra ta’ dokumenti, kotba, ġurnali u ritratti li hu pprepara għalija, George ma naqasx milli jdawwarni dawra mad-dar tiegħu sabiex jurini biċ-ċar ir-rabta tiegħu ma’ din il-festa, espressa fosthom permezz tal-kwantità ta’ presepji differenti li għandu, bil-bambin li xtara minn Betlehem lura fl-1956 u bis-siġra tal-Milied li huwa stess żejjen b’għadd ta’ ornamenti, bozoz ikkuluriti, u mużika ħelwa.

    L-ewwel tifkira ħaditna lura għall-1960 ġewwa l-bini tal-Juventutis Domus Sagra Familia fiż-Żejtun, fejn f’dak iż-żmien, George Vella kien is-segretarju tal-għaqda li kienet tmexxi l-attivitajiet tal-post. Ta’ min isemmi li oriġinarjament din il-binja li tinsab fi Triq San Girgor, kienet il-palazz ta’ l-Isqof Ferdinand Mattei li kien jużaha bħala residenza għas-sajf u anki biex minnha jkun jista’ jsegwi l-pellegrinaġġ annwali ta’ San Girgor li kien jgħaddi proprju minn din it-triq (kif għadu jiġri sa llum). Kien fl-1911 meta Dun Spiridione Grixti u Angelo Baldacchino staqsew lill-Arċipriet taż-Żejtun, Dun Lawrenz Degabriele, sabiex jingħataw il-permess ħalli jiftħu ċentru ta’ tagħlim fejn it-tfal iż-żgħar setgħu jitgħallmu d-duttrina u fl-istess ħin fejn iż-żagħżagħ setgħu jinġabru u jinżammu l-bogħod mill-perikli tal-ħajja, skont it-tagħlim ta’ San Ġwann Bosco.

    Għall-ewwel inkriet dar ċkejkna fi Triq San Girgor u d-Domus infetaħ uffiċċjalment fl-24 ta’ Frar 1912. Iżda aktar tard, fit-13 ta’ Diċembru tal-1920, ġie ffirmat il-kuntratt tal-akkwist ta’ dan il-palazz u d-Domus ġie trasferit għal dan il-post. Intant, madwar 40 sena wara, fl-eqqel tal-ġlieda politiko-reliġjuża, il-parteċipazzjoni fid-Domus min-naħa tat-tfal u ż-żagħżagħ bdiet tonqos ħafna u biex jerġgħu jiġbdu lura l-interess tagħhom, George Vella flimkien ma’ xi membri oħra, fosthom Generoso Vella u Joseph Turban, iddeċidew li minflok jagħtu r-rigali tal-Milied lit-tfal tal-membri, lill-abbatini, u lil dawk li kienu jattendu d-Domus minn ġewwa ċ-Ċentru bħas-soltu, huma kienu se jibgħatu lil Father Christmas idur madwar ir-raħal sabiex iqassam ir-rigali fid-djar tat-tfal stess, akkumpanjat mid-daqq tal-banda taż-Żejtun Boy Scouts.

    P1120394L-ewwel wieħed li messietu x-xorti li jilbes ta’ Father Christmas kien Joseph Mansueto li fl-1960 ħareġ fuq karru miġbud minn tractor armat b’żewġt iċriev kbar li kienu qed jiġbdu warajhom żlitta kbira ħamra mimlija bir-rigali u mdawwra bi qniepen elettriċi. Din l-idea mal-ewwel intlaqgħat tajjeb kemm mit-tfal u kif ukoll mill-membri tad-Domus u wkoll mill-ġenituri tat-tfal. Infatti minn dik is-sena ‘l hemm, il-membri tad-Domus u t-tfal kienu jibdew jaħdmu fuq dan il-karru minn xi xahar qabel, peress li kull sena l-forma tiegħu kienet tinbidel. Fost il-forom użati nsibu sputnik, rocket spazjali, ferrovija, żlitta miġbuda miċ-ċriev, żwiemel ħajjin eċċ.

    Maż-żmien tant ħadet din id-drawwa, li biex tkun tista’ tilqa’ t-talba biex jitqassmu r-rigali kollha fl-istess ħin kellhom joħorġu tnejn min-nies lebsin ta’ Father Christmas. Huwa interessanti li wieħed ikun jaf li meta wieħed kien jintagħżel biex jilbes ta’ Father Christmas għal waqt din l-attività, dan kien jitqies bħala unur kbir peress li l-individwu magħżul kien ikun dak li ta l-akbar kontribut lid-Domus matul dik is-sena. Ftit ftit il-kelma ġriet u d-Domus taż-Żejtun beda jirċievi talbiet anki minn inħawi oħra f’Malta sabiex il-Father Christmas bil-karru tiegħu flimkien mal-banda tal-Boy Scouts imorru jferrħu u jqassmu r-rigali anki lit-tfal t’hemmhekk. Naturalment, ma damux ma nibtu attivitajiet bħal dawn mal-inħawi kollha tal-gżejjer tagħna, tant li din id-drawwa għadha għaddejjha fostna sa llum.

    P1120380It-tieni ġrajja li rrakkuntali George Vella seħħet fit-23 ta’ Diċembru 1963 meta wara talba li saret mid-Domus, id-dipartiment tar-relazzjonijiet pubblici tal-Hafmed NATO kienu rregalaw lill-poplu Żejtuni siġra kbira tal-Milied twila madwar 30 pied li nġiebet apposta min-Norvegja u tpoġġiet fi Pjazza Diċembru 13 (qabel Pjazza Brittanika). Dakinhar saru festi kbar hekk kif madwar is-siġra mixgħula, inġabru għadd ta’ Żwieten u anki uffiċċjali għoljin tan-NATO flimkien mal-familji tagħhom. Wara li tkantaw xi għanjiet tal-Milied, intfiet il-pjazza kollha fid-dlam u f’ħin minnhom, Tony Mifsud, li għal dik is-sena kien intagħżel biex jilbes ta’ Father Christmas, għamel daħla trijonfali liema bħalha, hekk kif wasal fuq żiemel abjad biex iqassam ir-rigali lit-tfal minn taħt din is-siġra kbira. Ċertament dan ukoll kien avveniment kbir għaż-Żejtun u dwaru kienu tkellmu l-gazzetti kollha ta’ Malta u kif ukoll il-mezzi tax-xandir.

    Iżda l-kbir kien għadu ġej għax it-tielet ġrajja li kellu lest għalija George kienet waħda tassew fantastika u stagħġibt mhux ftit kif jiena, bħala Żejtunija, qatt ma kont smajt biha qabel. Kollox beda waqt logħba table tennis, hekk kif Ltn. Commander Cliff Perry, R.N., b’ammirazzjoni lejn ix-xogħol li kienu qed jagħmlu dawn il-membri tad-Domus biex joħorġu b’ideat ġodda, huwa offra ruħu biex jagħti sorpriża kbira lit-tfal taż-Żejtun. Din kienet tikkonsisti fl-opportunità li għal dik is-sena, il-Father Christmas tad-Domus seta’ jitwassal minnu permezz ta’ ħelikopter tar-Royal Navy. Naturalment, okkażżjoni unika bħal dik ma kienux ser jitilfuha u George flimkien ma’ sħabu, intefgħu jippjanaw din l-attività l-ġdida.

    P1120383Ħafna mill-anzjani Żwieten jiftakru lil dan il-ħelikopter itir fuq iż-Żejtun fil-ġranet ta’ qabel il-Milied tal-1964, fosthom Carmelo P Baldacchino, li għaddieli xi ritratti li ħa ħu Ġeorge stess, Johnny Vella, dakinhar li seħħet din l-avventura. B’għaġeb kbir tat-tfal tal-iskola l-ġdida primarja taż-Żejtun (magħrufa bħala Carlo Diacono) f’ħin minnhom jidher ħelikopter b’maskra kbira ta’ Father Christmas fuq il-buq tiegħu u mżejjen b’dawl ikkulurit, u wara li ttajjar ftit fuq l-iskola, huwa deher nieżel fil-bitħa mdaqqsa tagħha u minnu ħareġ il-Father Christmas biex iqassmilhom ir-rigali li kellu jistennewh fi żlitta fil-qrib.

    George jiftakar ċar li t-tfal tbellħu meta raw dan kollu jiġri quddiemhom u tgħidx xi fratterija qamet, kulħadd jiġri ‘l hemm u ‘l hawn biex jara x’qed jiġri u biex jaċċerta ruħu li kien ser jaqla’ rigal. Wara dan kollu, il-Father Christmas ta’ dik is-sena, Anthony Sinagra, rikeb ġewwa ż-żlitta tiegħu u erħielha jqassam ir-rigali madwar iż-Żejtun kollu. Sadanittant il-ħelikopter reġa’ ntrefa’ fis-smewwiet u minnu nxteħtu għadd ta’ bżieżaq fuq l-inħawi tal-iskola. Ftit wara, il-ħelikopter deher jieqaf mill-ġdid fl-ajru fuq l-istitut tas-Sorijiet ta’ Ġesù Nazzarenu fiż-Żejtun u hemm niżlet xita ta’ ħelu għat-tfal li kienu residenti f’dan il-post.

    George kien emozzjonat ħafna b’dawn il-memorji iżda meta rani daqstant interessata, ma damx ma beda jirrakkuntali dwar għadd ta’ ġrajjiet oħra hekk kif minn armarji, kxaxen u kaxxi, huwa beda joħroġ diversi tifkiriet ħalli jispjegali aħjar dwar dak li kien qiegħed ifehemni. Fosthom skoprejt li matul ħajtu huwa żar diversi postijiet madwar id-dinja minħabba x-xogħol tiegħu fejn anki hemm ma naqasx l-element tal-avventura. Kien ukoll kittieb u riċerkatur fejn fosthom huwa kien ġabar u ppubblika t-tagħrif tal-Pronostiku Malti għal 25 sena sħaħ.

    Ċertament laqgħat ma’ individwi bħal dawn juru biċ-ċar kemm niesna huma riżors importanti ta’ esperjenzi u informazzjoni li jistgħu jitfgħu dawl fuq is-soċjetà, il-kultura u l-istorja tagħna. Nistgħu ngħidu li bosta mid-djar tagħna jistgħu jiġu kkunsidrati bħala arkivji fihom infushom mibnija personalment b’dedikazzjoni kbira minn nies differenti, skont l-oqsma varji ta’ l-interessi tagħhom. Personalment nemmen li flimkien mal-istorja ġenerali, dawn il-ġabriet tat-tifkiriet imxerrda fost diversi familji, kapaċi jippreżentaw sfumaturi sinifikanti sabiex wieħed ikun jista’ jara stampa akbar ta’ ġrajjiet pajjiżna.

    (Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela ĠABRIET IT-TIFKIRIET (it-8 Parti) tat-Torċa datata 22 ta’ Diċembru 2013)

    2013.12.22 / no responses / Category: Torca - Features & Articles