VISITMALTA NEWSLETTER No 09            WWW.VISITMALTA.COM     Welcome, Merhba     We are back with a brand new issue of our e-newsletter - the first one for 2010. During the holiday break, we took the opportunity to give our newsletter a quick facelift. The features that our readers are familiar with (Culture & Heritage, Discover, Living, and so on) have remained unchanged, but we have added a handy content menu which takes you straight to the article you want to read. (Incidentally, clicking on the blue separators between the articles takes you back to the top of the page). We also replaced the header with a larger image and added more colour throughout the newsletter. Do tell us what you think. Meanwhile, in this edition we bring you information about the history of Carnival in Malta – which is still one of the most popular annual appointments for locals and visitors. We take a glimpse at the colourful world of local traditional handicrafts. We highlight the adventurous side of Gozo and also feature Malta as a destination for weddings and honeymoons. In the ‘Did You Know?...’ segment, we introduce you to a local legend from the 1950’s who made it all the way to Hollywood. As always, we also present a selection of upcoming events from our comprehensive online calendar, plus a photo sent in by one of our readers. Michael Piscopo Editor editor@visitmalta.com      CONTENTS Editorial Culture & Heritage: The Malta Carnival Discover: Local Crafts PhotoFile: Mdina Street Did You Know?... Oreste Kirkop Gozo & Comino: Adventure for all Tastes Living: Weddings & Honeymoons Events            Culture and Heritage         THE MALTA CARNIVAL       Carnival has held a very important place on the Maltese cultural calendar for the past five centuries. It was introduced to the Islands by Grand Master Piero del Ponte in 1535, five years after the Knights took over the islands. The first official carnival was held in Birgu where a number of knights played games and displayed their skills in various pageants and tournaments. The knights decorated the ships of the Order’s fleet in harbour and there was song, dance and revelry.  Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette had allowed the wearing of masks in public however later on in 1639 under Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris Castellar, a proclamation prohibited women from wearing masks or participating in balls. The expression in Maltese ‘Ghandek wicc Laskri’ ‘You have a sour look like Lascaris’ refers to Grand Master Lascaris who became increasingly unpopular because of his imposition. Carnival was later celebrated in Valletta and was ushered in by the ‘Parata’, which is a light-hearted re-enactment of the 1565 victory of the Knights over the Turks. The official permission to hold Carnival was delivered from the balcony of the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta. Carnival celebrations still take place in and around the capital city. The float of King Carnival precedes all the other floats which drive along the main streets of Valletta and Floriana.  The Nadur Carnival in Gozo, has become very popular since it is rather different from the one celebrated in Valletta. Revelers wear macabre costumes and one can expect anything walking through the streets of the quaint Gozitan village. Certain Maltese sweets are directly linked to carnival. These include the perlini (multi-coloured, sugar-coated almonds) and the prinjolata, which is a towering assembly of sponge cake, biscuits, almonds and citrus fruits, topped with cream and pine nuts. For more info: http://www.visitmalta.com/event-details?l=1&e=3178             Discover         LOCAL CRAFTS       Traditional crafts have undergone a revival in recent years.  Not solely because they make interesting souvenirs but also because of their high cultural value to the Islands. Some crafts, such as knitwear, basketware and lace, have a long history. Other craft forms, such as weaving and pottery, date back to prehistoric times.  The ‘Sleeping Lady’ found in the Hypogeum is a clay figurine of exquisite workmanship.  A symbol of the nation's extraordinary heritage, the figurine is deeply ingrained in the Maltese sense of identity.  In the Tarxien temples, archaeologist also found fragments of red-dyed, flax textiles.  These fabrics showed that the prehistoric islanders had considerable skills in weaving. The Arabs introduced cotton into Malta from around 870 and brought also their expertise in weaving and dyes.  Cotton production became a major rural industry from medieval times up to the early 19th century. During the time of the Knights, Gozitan cotton linen was highly-prized in mainland Europe. Weaving, embroidery and lace-making were encouraged, often by the Church. Life in Gozo and much of rural Malta was relatively harsh and craft industries became a main source of income for rural families. Such was the workmanship of these textiles during the 17th century, that various Grand Masters prohibited the wearing of embroidered and fancy garments considering them frivolous and out of keeping with the Order's religious calling. A craft that really flourished under the Knights was gold and silver ware. Malta’s most precious production is filigree and jewellery. Today, Maltese goldsmiths are thriving, their work often exported to major cities abroad. For more info: http://www.visitmalta.com/traditional-crafts          Photo-File  Title: Street in Mdina  By: Siegfried Bless  Location: Mdina  From: Germany    Do you have a great shot of Malta that you would like to share with the world? Send it to us. It could end up being featured here on one of the forthcoming issues.           Did you know...?  …that Malta had its very own movie star of the nineteen-fifties. Born in Hamrun on 26th July 1923, Oreste Kirkop had a brilliant career both locally and abroad, culminating in a brief but highly successful spell in London, New York and Hollywood. Between 1954 and 1958 Oreste was the principal tenor at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London - the first Maltese to be exclusively engaged as a principal tenor in this prestigious venue. In 1953, he was chosen by the BBC to represent Malta for the "Coronation Commonwealth Gala". In 1956 and 1957, Oreste Kirkop was the guest star at the Hollywood Bowl Concerts in Los Angeles, U.S.A. and also in 1956 he starred in the musical film THE VAGABOND KING. Between 1957 and 1958 he was the principal tenor of the NBC Opera Company in New York, with which he also toured major cities throughout the U.S.A. He was also the principal tenor in the first broadcast of the opera ‘Rigoletto’ on TV in America in February 1958. In 1960, at the peak of his career, Oreste decided to leave the fast lane and retire in Malta. He died at the age of 74, in 1998.      Watch Oreste on Youtube               Gozo & Comino         ADVENTURE FOR ALL TASTES       Diving, walking, cycling, swimming, abseiling, snorkelling or sailing; a holiday in Gozo can be as active as you want it to be. Despite its small geographic size, the island offers a full menu of possibilities for those who want to do more than just see the sights and soak up the atmosphere from the comfort of a sun lounger or roadside cafe. Gozo is renowned for its exceptional dive sites.  It’s crystalline and, generally, calm waters are ideal conditions for beginners while more experienced divers have a wealth of underwater caverns, reefs, tunnels and wrecks to explore. With sea temperatures never dropping any lower than 13 degrees Celsius, diving off the Maltese Islands is possible practically all year round. All the necessary equipment can be hired from one of the several certified diving centres on the island.  The mild wintry months between October and May are ideal for those who prefer to explore the island on foot. Gozo is a veritable hikers' paradise offering an endless choice of walks through charming old villages, past archaeological sites, exploring old chapels and ancient farmhouses, discovering secret bays and lush valleys in the midst of picturesque countryside and along rugged coastline.  Winter is also perfect for rock climbing, abseiling and bouldering. The island’s impressive cliffs and deep inland valleys are ideal terrain. In recent years a number of bolted sports climbing routes have been developed with the assistance of the Malta Tourism Authority and climbers visiting Gozo have the opportunity to develop new lines under the Gozo Climbing Association’s guidelines. The two main areas that have been bolted so far are Mgarr ix-Xini and Ghajn Abdul. Both locations offer a range of climbs from grades 5 to 7b+ with approximately 60 bolted routes between them. New sea cliff routes are being developed enabling sports climbing in the summer months.  Gozo also offers around 50 boulder problems with a good mix of challenge, variety and landing in spectacular surroundings. Private organisation Gozo Adventures can accompany visitors to Gozo’s bouldering areas and supplies climbers with bouldering mats for extra safety. Despite the fact that the highest point on Gozo is no more than 450m above sea level, the island nonetheless has a number of challenging and interesting cycling routes. Mountain bike and helmet rental can be arranged. Being an island, it is only natural that in the summer months Gozo attracts watersports enthusiasts. The coastline hides numerous fjord-like bays, inlets and coves and one is never far from an idyllic bathing spot. Ramla Bay on the east coast, with its characteristic golden red sand, is undoubtedly the most popular beach. Charter a yacht for the day and sail around the Maltese Islands or hop on board an organised cruise which will also take in the famous Blue Lagoon off Comino. On calm days, fishermen take visitors on their luzzu through a tunnel from the Inland Sea at Dwejra on the Western coast and round the majestic cliffs for a closer look at the Azure Window, the most photographed natural landmark on the Maltese Islands, and the legendary Fungus Rock. Meanwhile, the more active can try their hand at kayaking or windsurfing. For more information: www.gozoadventures.com           Living         WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS       With all-year-round sunshine and crystal waters, the Islands offer a distinctive location for a wedding or honeymoon.  As it is in the Maltese culture to highly celebrate weddings, there is an enormous variety of products and services available, making the organisation of a wedding relatively stress free as well as great value for money. The celebration can take whatever form you wish – from a sit down dinner or cocktail party to a traditional lavish reception. Venues are in no way limited to hotels – a large variety of grand baroque palaces with gardens, converted farmhouses or more unconventional outdoor venues are available. The Islands have a wide selection of experienced, professional caterers who can offer any type of speciality food or even local fare. Most hotels have a food and banqueting team pleased to meet individual requirements and special requests. Weddings can be purely in civil form or combined with a church ceremony. In either case, the legal formalities are relatively simple and can even be done from your home country in advance. Should a church wedding be desired, there are over 360 churches and chapels on the Islands, making for excellent choice. One can opt for the elegance and splendour of baroque parish churches or the intimacy and seclusion of countryside chapels.  Although Malta’s religion is Roman Catholic, couples from other denominations regularly hold wedding services in churches of their own religious denomination in Malta.  Foreign visitors who wish to marry in a Roman Catholic church have some formalities to complete in advance, but these are straightforward and involve regular documentation like birth certificates and a letter from the diocese in the country of origin. When it comes to honeymooning, Maltese hotels offer special suites, some with stunning sea vistas and roomy balconies, at reasonable rates. And when you get tired of relaxing and soaking up the sun, there are so many things to get up and do, just around the corner from wherever the hotel is situated. You’ll never exhaust the possibilities for exploration and discovery, from the busy cosmopolitan side of the Islands to the lure of the many romantic hideaways. For more information: http://www.visitmalta.com/weddings_malta                   EVENTS HOLY WEEK & EASTER   28/03/2010 to 04/04/2010 Across Malta & Gozo Good Friday and Easter are celebrated in Malta in a liturgical and ceremonially prominent manner. On Palm Sunday, one may assist to the liturgical rites that usher in Holy Week. On Thursday evening and Friday morning, churches have their paintings draped over in purple or black velvet. The Maltese folk turn out in their thousands to visit and pray in seven different churches as traditionally observed.       LAND ROVER MALTA MARATHON  BOV OPERA FESTIVAL RONAN KEATING LIVE!     28/02/2010 Mdina to Sliema 17/03/2010 to 24/03/2010 The Manoel Theatre Valletta 03/04/2010 MFCC - Ta Qali        For more information please visits our events calendar www.visitmalta.com/events-calendar             The Malta Tourism Authority would like to keep you informed about the Maltese Islands. However, if you wouldn't like to be included on our list of people we e-mail, please follow this link or you can reply to this e-mail with 'remove' in the subject line. We recommend that you add our email address to your safe senders list.

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