The 2019 Christmas Crib Seminar in Xaghra Gozo, is now in its 15th consecutive year, organised by the Group ‘Hbieb tal-Presepju Ghawdex- Malta,’ in collaboration with the Group ‘Il-Milied fix-Xaghra’ and the Xaghra Local Council.

The seminar, which is being held next Sunday, the 20th of October, will commence at 8.30am with a Mass, celebrated by Can. Michael Borg in the Jesus of Nazareth church in Xaghra.

Following the Mass, proceedings will continue in the Jesus of Nazareth Centre, next to the same church, with a lecture on the Nativity Scene through the history of cinema, complemented by a series of slides and video clips, presented by Victor Agius.

The seminar will continue with a demonstration given by Maltese Christmas crib artist Benny Camilleri who will show and explain how he uses his artistic techniques in jablo and plaster to craft a Christmas crib.

Mr Camilleri has just returned from his sixth course in Italy together with Antonio Pigozzi on the art of crib-making.

The organisers said that the numerous cribs exhibited in Xaghra over the festive season is a real feat for such a small village, and in fact are considered “as the main attraction when visiting the village during this period.

This year, 30 mechanical and static artistic cribs together with a large baroque crib crafted in Naples will all be on show in Xaghra.

The ‘Ghaqda Il-Milied fix-Xaghra’ (Christmas in Xaghra Organisation) was established in 2004 and works on a voluntarily basis to help and organise activities related to the traditional Maltese Christmas in the village of Xaghra.

This organisation is affiliated with the ‘Ghaqda Hbieb tal-Presepju Ghawdex-Malta est. 1985’ (Friends of the Crib Gozo-Malta). It also collaborates closely with the Parish of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary together with Archpriest Mgr. Carmelo Refalo and all other organisations situated in the village of Xaghra.

This organisation said that it provides the necessary help and coordination in all activities which are organised during Christmas.

The ‘Ghaqda Il-Milied fix-Xaghra’ said that it also collaborates closely with the Xaghra primary school where a number of extracurricular sessions on the art of crib-making are carried out.This year is also a special one for the village and for all Christmas crib followers, because it will be the fiftieth anniversary since the historical mechanical crib situated in the Xaghra boys’ MUSEUM building in ‘Dun Gorg Preca’ Street was crafted and exhibited to the public for the first time.

This event is being organised in collaboration with the Xaghra Local Council and the ‘Gesu Nazzarenu’ Centre.

The entrance to the seminar is free. For more information kindly contact miliedxaghra@gmail.com or visit GhaqdaMilied Xaghra on facebook and Xaghra Parish on facebook.

Photos: Cribs crafted by Benny Camilleri; The Nativity from the movie ‘Jesus of Nazareth’ – Franco Zeffirelli, 1977 and The Escape to Egypt from the movie ‘Il Vangelo Secondo Matteo’ – Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1964 – Photos supplied by Ghaqda Il-Milied fix-Xaghra

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