What is a presepju? The story behind the quirky nativity display that locals fawn over
The Maltese love a good presepju.
Christmas in Malta is spectacular. The decorations, the shopping, the food… the list goes on and on, and it will keep your few weeks off as jam-packed as possible. Although the commercial side has found its way into our society, there is one factor we can’t forget to mention: the religious traditions that fill the air during the Christmas period, best signified by the presepju.
The presepju is a crib depicting the nativity scene and carries a strong significance in Maltese culture. Here, I speak with Charles Bellia, a local expert on crib making, who explains the quirks of this wonderful tradition, the presepju’s significance in Maltese culture and a few tricks of the trade when it comes to building a crib.
Charles is the Secretary and PRO of Ghaqda Hbieb tal-Presepju, Malta; an organisation founded in 1986 with a clear goal - to bring back the presepju in every local home, and to give Christmas a more profound meaning than gifts and turkey. “It was no easy task,” claims Charles, “materialism has crept into Malta as it has everywhere else in the world, endangering our culture and our long-standing traditions.”
Charles explains the history of the Maltese crib - an exciting journey that started during the time of the Knights of St John. “Malta’s nobility, challenged by the example of the Knights of St John, had sizeable cribs in their homes. These were brought over from Naples where the baroque presebbio was flourishing. Being highly artistic both in design and manufacture, these Neapolitan cribs were quite expensive, and therefore not entirely accessible to the Maltese public due to the country’s state of poverty in the 17th century.”
From then on, the crib became the main attraction on the island during the Christmas season; with locally crafted cribs fitting everyone’s budget and finding a niche spot within the family home. Even though modern nuances have entered the market; giving all crib-seekers a choice for their preferred style, the tradition and message still hold in the contemporary pieces.
Creating these beauties is a devotion to the trade, and Charles explains that there are two types of cribs that can adorn your house; the mass-produced bunch and the tailor-made art pieces, the latter the superior of the two. “Tailor-made cribs are either made-to-order or constructed by dedicated persons. Making a crib requires a number of steps which need to be followed. Cribs can vary in style; from oriental and popular designs to traditional Neapolitan. Each style calls for particular buildings, landscapes and accessories.”
The devotion to the trade is serious and it leaks on to the specifics; “Once the style is determined, the size of the crib in relation to the statuettes is also considered, here proportions are also taken care of to avoid an unbalanced perspective.” And finally, construction can start! Miniature houses are placed in the grotto created to host the scene, rocks and other scenery are added to the display made with recycled goods such as brown paper, cardboard and other materials used to create the shape and make the structure as sturdy as possible. PVA glue mixed with plaster hold the lot together and once dried, the crib can be painted with water-based colours.
The pasturi are statuettes that set the scene and remind Malta’s Catholic following of the miracle of Christmas. Figurines from different nations depict the country’s culture and traditions, and Maltese presepji do the very same. Some factors that change in Maltese cribs include l-ghageb, which is also known as l-adoratur - a happy chap standing in front of the grotto in awe of what he’s just witnessed, arms raised to the heavens.
Another interesting character is ix-xabbatur, ‘the stooper’; a curious character who peers into the cave to sneak a peek at the newborn child. Other characters include ir-rieqed translated as ‘the sleeping guy’ and ix-xriek; two statuettes with one arm on each other’s shoulder and the other close to their ears - these singing characters are sometimes accompanied by musicians playing the zaqq and tamborlin (bagpipes and tambourine). But everyone has their favourite character in the crib... throughout my childhood, the beautiful angel hanging at the top of my mother’s crib always caught my eye; her dainty wings and beautifully carved face remain in my memory.
For our expert, the choice is different: “my favourite characters in the crib are the shepherds with their flocks. They rushed to the grotto without doubting the angel's words; Go, today a Saviour is born unto you in Bethlehem.”
And there you have it, the presepju: a means of keeping the religious tone of Christmas clearly in place through a local tradition that finds its way into our homes during the festive season.