This Christmas, choose more meaningful gifts that will certainly delight your loved ones – choose handmade gifts that have a story to tell from our local artisans!

As the festivities draw closer, the Malta Crafts Foundation is once again calling on locals to make their holiday season more meaningful by supporting Malta’s talented artisans through its focused #ChooseLocal campaign.

Choosing a locally made gift means more than just a present under the tree – it’s a conscious decision with real impact. When you buy from a local artisan, you help preserve traditional crafts and cultural heritage, while also supporting local livelihoods.

From ceramics and glass to textiles, woodwork, jewellery, and so much more, artisanal gifts are often one-of-a-kind and can even be personalised, making them all the more thoughtful and memorable for those they’re meant for.

By promoting local craftsmanship and generating awareness about the very talented artisans within our communities, the Foundation aims to remind everyone that the most heartfelt gifts often come from right here at home.

The Christmas-themed initiatives also include the yearly event at the Ta’ Dbieġi Artisan Village in Gozo – Santa’s Workshop – which this year is being held on Saturday, December 13th, between 10:00h and 16:00h. As always with a free entrance, this will be a day full of fun, artisanal products, gifts, and surprises!

On this day, the Ta’ Dbieġi Artisan Village comes alive with artisans opening their workshops, demonstrating their craft, and offering their handmade products. Visitors can stroll through the village, meet master artisans, and browse a curated selection of gifts – all in a festive atmosphere.

In addition to seasonal treats, games and family-friendly entertainment, as well as characters roaming the village ready to pose for photos with visitors, there will also be a treasure hunt offering a unique way to experience the village and a chance to win a €100 voucher to help you stock up on your Christmas gifts!

In addition to the Gozo event, the Foundation is also coordinating several artisan markets across the islands that offer the perfect chance to shop local this Christmas, among which are the artisan markets at Fairyland and Rigal b’Imħabba.

Fairyland, set up at the entrance to Valletta from December 5th, 2025 to January 4th, 2026, offers a magical Christmas village experience. Wooden market chalets will host artisans, while Christmas-themed entertainment, food stalls, and festive décor create a truly enchanting setting for local shopping.

Being held in Castille Square, Valletta, between December 15th and 24th, 2025, Rigal b’Imħabba will once again be collecting gifts for vulnerable children who risk missing out on a special gift this Christmas. The artisan market around the square will not only help create a more festive atmosphere, but will also offer visitors a charming and accessible way to pick up handmade gifts in the heart of the capital.

By choosing to shop at these markets, from the artisan villages in Ta’ Qali and Ta’ Dbieġi, or from artisans around the islands, you’re not just buying a gift – you’re making a statement. You’re saying that Maltese traditions matter, that creativity matters, and that local artisans deserve support!

This Christmas, make your gifts count – #ChooseLocal and discover the beauty, craftsmanship, and heart in every Maltese-made present.

For more details on these initiatives, visit the Malta Crafts Foundation’s website at maltacrafts.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.