The Magi are departing today on a 2200km journey in order to arrive for the closing of the Nativity Village – Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem – on Sunday, 8th January, the Feast of Epiphany.

This year, the Magi will depart from Greccio, near Assisi – where Saint Francis created the first Nativity scene in 1223.

This is the fourth year that the Adoration of the Magi event is starting from a foreign country. The organisers said that the aim behind this initiative is to give an international dimension and promote the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem event outside Malta and Gozo.

New friendships have been formed during this time with towns and villages outside Malta that also organise life-size cribs, in order to work together and assist each other on such activities.

This year the Ghajnsielem Local Council is teaming up with another 3 Gozitan local councils, Gharb, Zebbug and Qala who also have friendship agreements with San Polo dei Cavallieri, Lanuvio and Canale Monterano in order to promote the Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem event in these towns.

A delegation from each of these Italian towns have already visited Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem to take part in the animation as actors.

Tolfa which has twinned with Ghajnsielem for the last 12 years will be assisting the group with the transport, lodging and the logistics of the 3-day long event. The delegation will be represented by the Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo, the Mayors of Ghajnsielem, Gharb, Zebbug and Qala, plus a number of volunteers who took part in the nativity village.

During the trip, the Three Kings will be visiting Homes for the Elderly, children and families. Once again, ‘Solidarity’ is the theme of the journey.

Once in Malta, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar will start their journey on Sunday, the 8th of January, Feast of the Epiphany, from Manikata at 10.00am followed by a short reenactment in Mellieha main square.

The Three Kings will then board the Gozo Channel and will make their triumphal entrance to the Nativity Village late afternoon after passing from the main streets of Ghajnsielem to bring gifts to baby Jesus.

This will bring to a close the eighth edition of Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem, which once again managed to attract thousands of visitors to view the activity village.

Please see Ghajnsielem.com facebook page for updates.

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