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Old Maltese customs and Household implements (Memorabilia)

Bizzilla - The Maltese Lace is a well sought after hand-made product presently made by a small number of Maltese ladies. The lace is made from fine silks using a hard cylindrical shaped pillow (Trajbu). Small tailor's pins are placed on the Trajbu to form the pattern for the lace. A number of bobbins (combini) filled with the fine silk threads are tied to the pins and spun around more pins to form the lace

Kenur - The Kenur The Stone Cooker was a cooking implement made from a Maltese stone and worked very effectively for many years, The cooker or firebox had a hole in the bottom where the firewood is placed. On the top, a grate was cut from the stone itself allowing the heat to rise and heat the pots or pans. The Kenur used the same cooking method as the modern day firewood Barbecue.

Il-Fuklar - A large stone stove fixed to the walls in the corner of the kitchen, with a flat top used also as a working bench. It had holes on its side from where the logs and other timber were fed when building a fire. On the top were other holes on which the pots were placed while cooking. Some had hoods connected to stone chimneys which enabled the smoke to be extracted outside the house.

Ghonnella - (Faldetta) is regarded as one of the Maltese national costume for women. Up to the beginning of the 20th Century this type of dressing was common with most women. Later it became a costume worn by older ladies and some groups of the community. The ghonella was made of black satin using whalebones as stiffeners, while the wedding version was made of pure white satin.

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The Gramaphone - Before the VCR's, DVD's, Cassettes and the Audio tapes the Gramophone reigned as king of recorded music. This was very versatile by playing both 33 rpm and 45 rpm audio records. The normally scratchy sound was amplified by a small diaphrame connected to a large trumpet like funnel. A manually operated handle was located on the side of wooden base to rewind the clockwork motor.

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The Redifusion - The cable radio broadcasting by Associated Rediffusion Ltd was the predecessor of today's AM and FM Radio, After the Second World Was most houses have these sets installed. In Malta, the news was broadcasted by the BBC and ITN of Great Britain. Broadcasts in Maltese were also regular until 1966 where this type of media became obsolete.

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Il-Kaless - The Calesse or Chaise was a horse drawn carriage which is thought to have been used in Malta as early 18th Century. This type of transport was used by the wealthy who employed footmen and horse riders. Most of the early calesses were imported by later Maltese tradesman starting building them to sell to people who were using them as hire cabbies.

The Ghar id-Dud Chalet - Before WWII the Sliema Chalet was a popular entertainment area frequented by many people especially during the warm weather. The building was damaged by a bomb during the war and had to be closed. In August 1944 the new proprietor Mr. K. Axisa completed the renovations and opened the Chalet for public again. In 1959 authorities have condemned the facilities to be unsafe and was closed again in July 1959.

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Il-Primus - The Primus stove can still be found in some antique shops. This was a kerosene stove with an air-pump system. The Primus stove had been a very efficient cooker and was in use for over a century. The Primus was used in most households alongside another kerosene version which used wicks instead of air pressure.

Lampa tal-pitrolju - The kerosene lamp can also be found today in antique and gifts shops. Before electricity was available to households, the kerosene lamp replaced the candles and gaslights as a source of lighting. These lamps used to come in all shapes and sizes. While some were quite expensive an now they are regarded as antiques.

Mithna tal-Kafe' - The coffee grinder was an important kitchen implement at the start of the 20th Century. The Maltese housewives used this grinder to grind coffee beans, cocoa beans and chick peas to make fresh coffee and other hot drinks.

ll-Bomblu -The Stone Water Jar was a very useful vessel to carry water and to keep it cool for a long period of time, even during the hottest days. Before the days of running tap water and refrigeration the Bomblu was a perfect container to collect and keep fresh drinking water.

Hadida tal-moghdija - The Antique Iron came in two models. The most popular was the one with a solid cast iron base, which had to be heated on a coal or kerosene stove. The more advance version had a hollowed base were burning hot coal was inserted to warm up the iron.

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Il-Bir - The Backyard Well was commonplace in Malta in the 19th and early 20th century. Home builders of the past were obliged to construct these wells in homes with backyard or patio facilities. These wells can be still found today in many of the old houses both in Malta and Gozo.

Terrimaxka or Karusel - The Maltese Carousel was a very colorful music box mounted on a cart drawn by a horse or donkey. This resembled the European "Monkey Organ", but it was a much bigger version, decorated with colourful figure some of which used to move while the music plays. The Carousel owner used to travel around the streets of the islands playing tunes, while hoping to collect money for his service.

Tal-Halib - The old-time Milkman did not deliver his milk in bottles stored in a motor-driven van. Milk was sold by grazers who took their stock in the streets to milk their sheep and goats in front of their customers.

Il-Forn - The old time Maltese Bakery was an establishment found in all towns and villages. These bakeries apart from baking bread and pastries were also used by the local communities. Before the time of gas, electricity and household ovens, housewives used to take their Sunday's roasts and baked meals to be cooked at these bakeries. Early each Sunday morning and Festa days you would see women and young ladies carrying pots and baking dishes to the local bakery. By midday they return to the bakeries to collect their cooked meals,

Banju -The Medieval bath tab was made from steel and came in many sizes. The large oval one (Banju) was used for bathing while the enamel painted or ceramic smaller version (Friskatur) was used as a hand basin. There was also a cylindrical version (Kardarun) which was used for washing and boiling clothes.

Il-Bejjiegh - The Street vendor was a very common site in both Malta and Gozo. From in front of their homes, people could just about buy anything they needed. The street vendors used to sell anything from bread to fuel on carts drawn by mules or donkeys. Some of these street vendors could only to be found on the Maltese Islands. (Tal-Bigilla) selling broad beans spreads, (Tal-Imqaret) selling hot date pastries and (tal-Pitrolju) with a big tank full of kerosene selling fuel.

Beritta - The flat cap was a head wear worn by most men of the past. A form of salute was touching the brim of the cap or slightly lifting it off the head. Beggars also used the cap to collect money while begging.

Il-Landier - The Tinsmith was a very important tradesman in Malta during the19th and early 20th century. Most people used tin cooking implements that were easily damaged by the heat and excessive use. The Maltese tinsmith used to set himself up in street corners in every town and village so people would get their damaged utensils to be repaired.

Pompa tal-Flit - Before the introduction of the modern pressure packs, this hand pump was use as a domestic Fly Sprayer. The pump was filled with a comical with the brand name of "Flit", thus the name Flit Pump.

It-Tallab - The village beggar was in most cases a very colourful individual found in many towns and villages. These beggars had some talent other than that of begging for money. Many of them used to perform some type of entertainment such as singing, dancing or telling yarns. Children around the country used to gather around these beggars wherever the go.
(See the Adventures of Bidi Badu in Maltese text).

Tombla - Bingo or Housie Housie is still a very popular game just about anywhere. In Malta, Bingo used to be the national pastime for many Maltese women. Each afternoon, especially on Sundays, groups of women used to gather in street corners playing Tombla. One of them would draw small wooden numbers from a bag made of cloth, while the other players mark their bingo tickets by playing small buttons on the numbers drawn.

Il-Quccija - This ancient practice closely resembles the customs of the neighbouring Greeks and Sicilians. When a baby boy was born, it was customary to place in front of the baby a number of tools of trade and object of other professions. Things such as a hammer, a paintbrush, a spade, a pencil, a book and other similar items. It was believed that the object the boy touches first would be the profession or trade he pursues when he grows up.

Lapsi - Easter Sunday has always been a very special day in the Maltese calendar, but apart of the religious celebrations, the Maltese also celebrate Easter in a very different manner. Many people used to celebrate Easter by taking their family by the sea and have their midday meals on the beaches. Another custom was to erect large swings (Bandla) between trees or on open doorways and each member takes turn swinging on the ropes. Children and adults used to compete to see who can build the biggest swing and who can swing the highest.

San Martin - Saint Martin's day is celebrated on November 11, and it is regarded as the kid's day. On this day, every child in Malta carried a bag made of cloth to be filled up with all types of nuts, an orange and a small loaf of bread. I am not sure where this custom originated from but as a child, I always looked forward for this special day. After eating the bread, the orange and most of the nuts, the boys used to play "marbles" with the hazelnuts (gellewz) while the girls played "Jacks" with the almonds (gewz).

San Gwann - The feast of St' John has it's origin from the time of the Knights of Malta (1530 -1798) Each year on the 23rd June every Maltese neighbourhood gather around piles of timber, old furniture and other combustible items to start the annual bonfire (Huggiega). This custom is said to commemorate the Crusades of which the Knights of St' John took active part.

Il-Parata - The Carnival Dance was performed by two groups of children. One group wearing traditional Maltese while the other group wore Turkish costumes. All the dancers carry wooden sticks representing swords or sabres. They form two circles, one inside the other with the two groups facing each other. One group in the circle moves clockwise while the other goes anticlockwise. They click their wooden sticks together as if they were fencing with an opponent. This dance is said to commemorates the battle of the Maltese against the Turks in the Great Siege of Malta (1565). I remember taking part in the Parata with a band called (Il-Banda ta' Bajdollu)

Il-Banda ta' Indri - Indri's Band was very popular in Malta before W.W.II. The band consisted of a number of musicians playing traditional instruments such as the bagpipes (zaqq) - the reed pipe (zummara)- the flute (flejgata) - the friction drum (zafzafa) - and the drums (tanbur or tanburlin). The band was a source of entertainment for the people in their own neighbourhood

Victory Kitchen - During the blitz of W.W.II Malta also experienced great shortage of food. Between 1941 and 43, the government opened food distribution centres in every town and village. Everyone with a Ration Card was entitled to one cooked meal a day. These meals consisted mainly in Baked Beans and Sausages (Fazola) or Vegetable Soup (Minestra) or Meat Stew (Stuffat). Most of the times these meals had to be eaten inside the Shelters owing to the great number of continuous Air-raids.

People queuing at the V.K. shop

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