The village of Xaghra has long been synonymous with Christmas and the Crib. Many families used to build a crib in the homes. Many years ago, cribs were built of stone sculptured by nature and found only in caves. Since nature blessed Xaghra with many of these caves, this could possibly be one of the reasons why so many houses had a crib during Christmas.

This has eventually led to other Christmas activities being held and which over the years grew in number. In time there were so many activities being held in the short Christmas period that some overlapping of activities was inevitable without proper coordination. This was the reason why, in October 2004 the Society hristmas in Xaghra’ was formed.

In October 2004, a group of people formed the ‘Ghaqda ‘Il-Milied Fix-Xaghra’ society, its aim was accordingly not to organise its own activities but primarily to co-ordinate and promote Christmas activities. Organisations were therefore invited to submit type of activity they were holding and tentative dates. This proved to be beneficial to everybody.

Early in the festive season, a calendar of events is published and distributed to Xaghra households, to organisations all over Malta and Gozo. This promotion helped bring the Xaghra Christmas activities to a wider audience.

The Society, however, also embarked on innovative activities. Seminars on how to build cribs in papier mache and jablo started being held annually and for which young and old attended. Lectures on how to build a crib in papier mache are also held for schoolchildren.

An exhibition of small cribs made by the schoolchildren is held on the school premises every year. Bazaar selling traditional Christmas home made sweets is held over three days in the first week of December.

An exhibition of crafts all with the Christmas theme runs for about a fortnight. An unexpectedly large number of handmade crafts mainly on parchment, ganutell (embroidery in multicoloured, silver and gold wire) and woolen Christmas items was exhibited the first year and has continued to grow ever since.

Competitions are organised for three types of cribs and decorated windows. Prizes are awarded to the first three placed in each category and certificates presented to all participants. Father Christmas goes round the village delivering presents on Christmas night.There are over twenty cribs, mechanical or static which will be open for public viewing. Not to be missed, however, is the Live Crib held in an old farmhouse near Nazzarenu Church and raised by the Guiding Light Group.‘Teen Spirit,’ a group of teenagers who meet at the church of St Anthony the Abbot, Xaghra, Gozo, have built a large eco-themed Christmas tree. The unique tree, which over the Christmas season will stand in St Anthony’s Square, is eight metres tall by four metres wide and is made up of an iron structure, onto which are fixed more than 6000 large green and white plastic bottles.

The Feast of the Epiphany is also celebrated in the village of Xaghra with the ‘La Cavalcata dei Magi.

This year, with the help of the Xaghra Local Council, Christmas lights will illuminate 8th September Avenue as never before. Guided tours to see the Xaghra unique Christmas cribs are organised between Christmas and New Year’s eve.

To enjoy the perfect Christmas spirit, attendance for Midnight Mass will be a really enjoyable experience. The decorations in the Basilica and the service are the right venue for Christmas night. An activity which went down immensely well with the locals and visitors to Xaghra after Mass is Agape, the community gathered on the church parvis exchanging Christmas greetings and enjoying a hot drink and cake.

There will also be a Grand Christmas Concert by Voci Angeliche Choir of the Basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin of Xaghra in Aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.

This is being organised with the collaboration of the Xaghra Local Council under the Patronage of H.E. George Abela, President of Malta and will take place on Friday, the 28th of December 2012 starting at 7.00pm at the Xaghra Basilica.

This year the Soicety has received financial aid towards the organisation of events and this was presented by the Minister for Justice, Dialogue and the Family, Chris Said who praised the commitment of the volunteers and committee in their dedication to uphold the cultural and traditions in the village over this festive period.

Photograph of the eco-themed Christmas Tree – Alain Salvary.

Permalink: Final preparations underway for Christmas 2012 in Xaghra