If someone’s looking particularly grumpy, the Maltese have a habit of saying ‘qisek wiċċ laskri’, which literally translates to ‘you look like Lascaris’. But who was this Lascaris, and why was he frowning? A Facebook post shared by St John’s Co-Cathedral has the answers!

The Lascaris in question is Grand Master Jean-Paul de Lascaris Castellar, and his infamous frown was brought on by the happenings of one particular Carnival in 1639.

That year, acting on the advice of his Jesuit confessor, Lascaris banned women from wearing masks and restricted their participation in Carnival festivities. This decision did not sit well with the young knights, who saw it as an attack on the spirit of the celebration. Protests erupted, and when one knight was arrested for mocking the Jesuits, tensions spiralled out of control.

Rather than backing down, Lascaris stood firm, but the knights had other plans. Riots broke out, with enraged knights storming the Jesuit College, raiding food and wine supplies, and throwing valuables into the streets as cheering Maltese citizens watched. Fearing for their lives, the Jesuits were forced to go into hiding.

In the end, Lascaris was forced to concede – the ban was lifted, the imprisoned knight was released, and the Jesuits were expelled from Malta. What started as a festive event turned into one of the most chaotic Carnival uprisings in Maltese history, and Lascaris became forever remembered for his stern, disapproving scowl and his grinch-like approach to Carnival.

So next time you hear someone say ‘wiċċ laskri’, you’ll know the dramatic Carnival story behind it!

Have you ever used this phrase?