A characteristic of the Maltese Islands is the pealing of bells. These are heard in old parts of towns and villages especially when one is passing by a major church. The visitor may wonder at the different peals and frequency of ringing.
The best two localities, famous for ringing bells, are Ħal Qormi (St George’s) and Birkirkara (St Helen’s). Their bells have kept the traditional rule of informing the faithful of events occurring in the locality.
The bells start the day very early. At around 4.30 am the ‘Pater Noster’ is rung with 33 strokes. 33 stands for the number of years Our Lord spent on earth. The other three main ringing times are at 8.00 am, midday and sunset. Many people associated these ringing times with a prayer called ‘Angelus’. The day ends with the ringing of the last bells an hour after the evening ‘Angelus’. This is referred to as ‘De Profundis’. In some localities, their bells ring again another hour after ‘De Profundis’ to remind the faithful that the first hour of the night had already passed.
The celebration of Mass has its particular pealing. Mass is announced by a few strokes of a bell fifteen minutes before it starts. This gives enough time for the faithful to leave home and gather in church. Another particular pealing occurs when a church is elevated to the dignity of a Collegiate. In this case the bells ring a two-toned peal for fifteen minutes to inform everyone that the members of the church’s Chapter will gather for matins and vespers.
In former days, the church bells used to peal to announce that someone in the parish was dying. This started by nine strokes which were followed by three strokes every hour until the passing bell was rung. The passing bell was followed by the death bell. These last two types of bells are still very common in old towns and villages. There was also a special bell peal called ‘Gloria’ when an infant died.
Feast days and sermons had their special pealing. On a festive season, before High Mass and vespers of the titular feast the church bells ring in four periods. When the feast is of secondary importance, the bells ring in three periods of ringing. When there is a special sermon the church bells ring a few minutes before it starts.
Christmas traditions in Malta seem to be a combination of lay and semi-religious manifestations. The crib is one of the main semi-religious activities. Some folklore writers think that the first crib was introduced in Malta in 1617/18 by Blackfriars in their Rabat church. This crib was lit up on Christmas Eve with earthenware lamps burning inside paper lanterns.
Cribs were later introduced in state hospitals. Then the locals started producing their own for their homes. Maltese crib figures started to be made out of clay. Only the figure of the Infant Jesus and sheep were made out of wax. The Maltese created two types of cribs – small ones (know locally as ‘il-grotta’) and bigger ones. One of these crib makers was Maestro Saverio Laferla. His fame was widespread all over the islands, so much so that an eighteenth-century diarist entered the following comment for the 19 January 1761: ‘the death has occurred of Maestro Saverio Laferla, a barber, acclaimed for his skills in making cribs and statues of papier-mâché.’
In the 1870s we come across a large-scale mechanised crib at Ħal Qormi. It seems that this crib created such a sensation that 7 years later there was another one at Tas-Sliema. By the turn of the twentieth century the large-scale cribs became so popular with the Maltese that we find several references to them in the local press.
Nowadays we find cribs in many Maltese homes. Schools and other public institutions such as old people’s homes and hospitals also have their own crib. The crib’s popularity increased due to the activities of two crib clubs – one in Malta and another in Gozo. Both clubs organise a crib exhibition a few days before Christmas Day.
Clay crib figures have become popular again. We find two types of crib figures – the Maltese and Palestine types. The Maltese figures are dressed up in local costumes while the Palestine type wears biblical attire. The main figures of the Virgin and St Joseph as well as the three Magi (sometimes referred to as ‘kings’) are always dressed up in biblical style. Many Maltese open their crib to the public. Some of theses cribs are exhibited in garages and small chapels. The local press usually features some addresses to help both locals and tourists visit these cribs.
Floriana, Valletta’s suburb, is full of public gardens and memorials. The main memorials are assembled along the main route – Floriana’s St Anne Street – and before Valletta’s entrance area.
As you pass by Porte des Bombes on your right you will find the Dante Alighieri memorial. This was erected on the initiative of the Società Dante Alighieri. The monument is based on the winning design of Vincent Apap. It shows this Italian poet standing on rocks while in deep meditations. The pedestal is a rarity as it consists of 3 roughly cut boulders, symbolising Paradiso (paradise) Purgatorio (purgatory) and L’ Infermo (hell) the three ‘divisions’ of Dante Alighieri’s greatest literacy work – La Divina Comedia.
A few meters away along the same street, there is the Manoel de Vilhena Memorial. This monument was originally placed in the ‘Piazza d’Armi’ of Fort Manoel on Manoel Island. The monument was erected on the initiative of Fra Felician de Mont Savasse, a knight of the Order of St John. The figure was cast in bronze in the Order’s foundry by Aloisio Bouchut. The monument was relocated first in Valletta in ‘Piazza Tesoreria’ and later at the entrance of the Maglio Gardens. In 1989 it was relocated again to its present location in Pope John XXIII Square to make way for the Independence Monument.
At the end of St Anne Street there is the War Memorial. It was erected according to the design of Louis Naudi. This square-faced obelisk was constructed in Maltese lower globigerina limestone. At the bottom there are 4 commemorative plaques. The obelisk is a good example of British pre-war military and colonial art.
The Air Force Memorial is found at the left of the War Memorial. It consists of a column which is topped with a gilded eagle. At the bottom of this monument, there are circular plaques bearing the names of the fallen Air Forces heroes. It was designed by Charles Wheeler and Hubert Worthington. This monument is reminiscent of the pro-Anglican post war period. It is worthwhile to mention that every year wreath laying ceremonies takes places in front of these two memorials, in the presence of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries.
Next to this monument there is the Christ the King Memorial. Designed by Antonio Sciortino to mark the beginning of the 20th century, the 1900 Holy Year dedicated to Christ the Redeemer and the Eucharistic Congress of 1913. This congress was held in Malta. The bronze works were cast in the Rome Buongirolami foundry. The central figure represents Christ in a moving pose while the other figure represents Malta, in a veneration act. In former times this monument was the starting point of pilgrimages which used to end at St John’s Co-Cathedral.
In front of the Maglio Gardens’ entrance there is the Independence Memorial. It was erected in 1989 showing a female figure representing Malta being unwrapped from a big, long bandage.
The knights of St John built long kilometres of fortified walls. They also built palaces and ‘auberges’ as places of residence. On the other hand, they seemed not to be keen to build castles. Throughout the years they only built one at Boschetto, a few kilometres away from Rabat/Mdina – Verdala Castle. The Maltese nobles built a few but only one is on a large scale – Selmun Castle.
Verdala Castle
The Grand Master, as head of the Order of St John, had his own castle – Verdala Castle. It was built during the time of Cardinal Grand Master Huges Loubenx de Verdalle as a summer palace. This castle is on high ground to benefit from cool summer breezes. It was built according to the design of Girolamo Cassar in 1586. It has a square plan. Next to it there is its chapel with its titular painting, a work of Mattia Preti.
This edifice is three storeys high and its corners are in the form of a tower. In case of enemy attack, from its rooftop, messages could be sent to the Valletta Magisterial Palace (today the President’s Palace). Its major attractions are a series of paintings depicting the life of Grand Master de Verdalle, executed by Filippo Paladini and its elliptical staircase. The castle is used by the Head of State as a summer residence. As sometimes this palace is opened to the public, I suggest that you ask the Tourist Information Office whether you could visit this historic place of interest.
Selmun Castle
The other castle was built on the plans of Maltese architect Domenico Cachia, around the year 1786. Its design was influenced by eighteenth-century architectural trends in Europe for fortified villas. It was built at the expense of a Maltese noble family. This castle stands on Mellieħa ridge. At its corners there are bastioned turrets. This castle is famous for its imposing hall as well as its banqueting room. It is worthwhile to mention that later this castle was used as a residence of the British petrol firm’s (BP) chairman residence. Subsequent it was turned into a hotel, a restaurant and tea rooms for a number of years.
Darba waħda, Donna u n-nannu reġgħu spiċċaw waħidhom id-dar. In-nannu qagħad jara t-televixin sakemm sar il-ħin għall-ikel. Donna filli kienet ħdejh u filli għebet. Tgħid x’kienet qiegħda tpaspar minn wara dahru!
In-nannu kienet għoddha marret għajnu bih meta f’daqqa u l-ħin lemaħha mill-ġdid maġenbu fil-kċina. Staqsieha fejn kienet u hi weġbitu li marret tilgħab ftit mal-qattus. In-nannu ried ikun jaf fejn kien il-qattus u t-tifla ħarrfitlu li kienet ħarġitu fil-bitħa interna qabel marret lura fil-kċina. In-nannu bħal donnu emminha u ma kellimha xejn.
Hekk kif Donna poġġiet fuq is-sufan, riedet taqleb l-istazzjon biex tara l-programm favorit tagħha. In-nannu kkuntentieha ħalli xejn xejn ikollha fiex tedha u tħallih kwiet. It-tifla qattgħet l-isbaħ siegħa b’għajnejha mwaħħlin mat-televixin. Sadanittant, in-nannu ħa nagħsa.
F’salt wieħed, beda jinstema’ d-daqq tal-pjanu li beda jdamdam kullimkien. Fis-salott suppost ma kien hemm ħadd, imma l-pjanu żgur li ma kienx idoqq waħdu. In-nannu qam maħsud u serraħ rasu xħin sab lil Donna għadha bilqiegħda ħdejh, għax għall-mument kien ħaseb li marret iddoqq il-pjanu waqt li kien rieqed.
Iżda Donna qisha kienet taf min kien qiegħed idoqq dawk in-noti bil-goff. Bdiet tidħak kemm kellha saħħa u tgħid lin-nannu li fis-salott kien hemm fatat idoqq il-pjanu. In-nannu ma felaħx jissaporti iżjed. “X’fatat hu? Ta’ zitek?” weġibha, filwaqt li ta ġirja lejn is-salott biex jara x’kien ġara.
In-nannu stagħġeb mhux ftit b’dak li ra quddiem għajnejh malli daħal fis-salott. Sab lill-qattus miexi fuq il-pjanu. Tatu rasu u mar ineħħih minn hemm. Dlonk intebaħ li din kienet xi praspura oħra minn ta’ Donna. Ma kienx ħaseb ħażin, tafux.
Donna kienet tellgħet lill-qattus fuq il-pjanu biex joqgħod jimxi fuqu u jdoqqu. Għamlet hekk meta llargat minn fejn in-nannu aktar kmieni, għax qatt ma kien iħalliha mqar tmissu ma jmurx tiskordah. Tal-inqas issa setgħet tisimgħu jdoqq xorta waħda bis-saħħa tal-qattus.
In-nannu ma tantx kellu aptit id-daħk. Il-pjanu kien ġralu l-ħsara u kellu jonfoq il-flus bla ħsieb biex jirranġah. Imma lil Donna kienet għoġbitha din il-biċċa tal-qattus jimxi fuq il-pjanu u tgħidx kemm kienet tidħak bil-qalb meta tiftakar fiha. Minn dakinhar `l hemm, in-nannu ħadha drawwa jsus wara Donna kull darba li jinzertaw waħidhom id-dar ħalli ma tazzardax tagħmel xi straġi oħra.
Nisa u rġiel nofshom għarwenin ħarġu fit-toroq u tefgħu fuqhom likwidu, taparsi demm, biex jipprotestaw kontra l-ġiri tal-barrin waqt il-festival ta’ Spanja.
L-Awstraljana Hannah Rose Bailey, kienet waħda mill-75 attivist favur id-drittijiet tal-annimali li pprotestat barra l-pjazza ewlenija f’Pamplona, ftit qabel ma fil-belt Spanjola ta’ San Fermin beda l-festival.
Din ix-xebba ta’ 22 sena kienet liebsa biss il-qalziet ta’ taħt u f’rasha qrun ta’ barri. Hi bdiet titfa’ fuqha t-taparsi demm bħala parti mid-dimostrazzjoni organizzata minn AnimaNaturalis u l-PETA.
Kien magħruf li madwar miljun persuna minn madwar id-dinja marru jsegwu dan il-festival ta’ ġimgħa, fejn ta’ kuljum il-barrin ħarġu fit-toroq jiġru wara n-nies.
Imbagħad filgħaxija kien hemm il-ġlied tat-toru.
Hannah sostniet li “it-tortura u l-qtil tal-annimali ma jista’ qatt ikun ġustifikat bħala varjetà.”Hu magħruf li kull sena jinqatlu 54 barri waqt dan il-festival.
Għodwa waħda, in-nanna ta’ Donna marret tagħmel qadja importanti. Donna baqgħet id-dar man-nannu. Kif kienu waħidhom ghall-kwiet, in-nannu poġġa maġenbha fuq is-sufan, u qagħad jaqralha storja dwar il-prinċipessa s-sabiħa ta’ xagħarha twil u dehbi li kienet tħobb tiżbogħ xufftejha bl-irtokk aħmar ghall-ballijiet. Donna ħadet interess liema bħalu f’din l-istorja għax bdiet tistħajjilha l-prinċipessa billi hi wkoll kellha xagħarha kemmxejn safrani. In-nannu tgħidx kemm ħa gost biha meta raha daqshekk kwieta dakinhar. Ħaseb li forsi sa fl-aħħar kienet qed trabbi l-għaqal. Kemm kien sejjer żball!
Ħin minnhom, in-nannu kellu bżonn jillarga ftit biex imur sal-kamra tal-banju. Wissa lil Donna biex ma tqumx minn fuq is-sufan sakemm ma jkunx hemm hu. Xi kwarta wara, mar lura ħdejha, u hi qaltlu bi tbissima: “Ħellow, nannu.” Iżda xħin in-nannu ħares lejha biex ikellimha, baqa’ skantat. Donna kellha xufftejha miksijin b’xi ħaġa ħamra mill-ewwel ‘l hawn. In-nannu ma setax jifhem x’kien ġralha. Qabad iħokk rasu għax beda jinkwieta bis-serjeta’. Beża’ li setgħet qasmet xufftejha b’oġġett li jaqta’, u ħarġilha ħafna demm.
Kif ratu abjad karti bl-inkwiet, Donna infaqgħet tidħak f’wiċċu għax indunat li kien qiegħed jaħseb ħażin għalxejn. Meta staqsieha għalfejn kellha xufftejha ħomor nar, hija qaltlu li malli ratu dieħel fil-kamra tal-banju, marret tfittex l-istoċċ tal-“lipstick” tan-nanna fil-kexxun tal-komodina, u hekk kif ġie f’idejha dellket ftit “lipstick” ma’ xufftejha bħalma kienet tagħmel il-prinċipessa tal-istorja tan-nannu.
Xħin sema’ x’kienet għamlet, in-nannu rrabja maghħa għax ma kinitx semgħet minnu, u qabbadha timsaħ xufftejha minnufih għax kienet aktar saret tixbah lill-buffu inkella lill-prinċipessa tal-istorja. Donna kellha tobdih għax beżgħet li jagħtiha xi kastig jekk ittellagħhomlu aktar.
Meta n-nanna waslet id-dar, in-nannu kellu jgħidilha b’kollox xħin sabet il-marki tal-“lipstick” fuq il-komodina. In-nanna mbagħad daħlet fil-kamra ta’ Donna ħalli turiha li kienet taf li marret tgerfxilha fil-kexxun tagħha. Iżda meta ħasset lin-nanna dieħla fejnha, Donna għalqet għajnejha, u għamlet tabirruħha li kienet rieqda ma jmurx ifettlilha tagħmel għaliha. Lil Donna kien jilħqilha moħħha iżjed milli kienet taħseb in-nanna. Mur għidilha kemm daħket waħidha xħin lemħitha ħierġa minn kamritha minn taħt il-għajn meta ħasbet li tassew kienet rieqda fil-fond!
SKEMA TA’ GĦAJNUNA LIL-LIBRERIJA TAL-ISKOLA TIEGĦEK
Din l-iskema maħsuba biex il-libreriji tal-iskejjel jew tal-klassijiet ikomplu jistagħnew b’għadd ta’ kotba kemm bil-Malti kif ukoll bl-Ingliż għall-istudenti li jħaddnu. BDL qed tħaddem din l-iskema b’għażla kbira ta’ kotba u logħob kemm għall-iskejjel tal-Primarja kif ukoll għal dawk tas-Sekondarja.
Benefiċċji tal-iskema
- Għal kull ktieb jew logħba li l-istudenti jixtru f’din l-iskema, il-kumpanija BDL tagħti lura lill-iskola madwar nofs l-ammont tal-valur tal-ktieb f’forma ta’ voucher biex permezz tiegħu l-iskola tkun tista’ tixtri kotba li jkomplu jagħnu l-libreriji fl-iskejjel.
- Kull student li jixtri xi ktieb jew logħba f’din l-iskema jingħata voucher ta’ 25% fil-mija biex jixtri kotba għalih innifsu għal-librerija personali tiegħu.
Xi rrid nagħmel biex inħaddem l-iskema fl-iskola tiegħi?
L-iskola tista’ tikkuntattja lil BDL billi tibgħat email fuq [email protected] sabiex jintbagħtulha l-fuljetti li jagħmlu parti minn din l-iskema biex jitqassmu lill-istudenti.
Kif taħdem l-iskema?
- Ngħaddulkom fuljetti stampati bl-informazzjoni tal-iskema u tal-ktieb abbinat magħha.
- Dawn il-fuljetti jitqassmu lill-istudenti.
- Jinġabru lura l-fuljetti bid-dettalji tal-istudenti u l-ħlas tal-ktieb.
- L-iskola tgħaddi l-ordni bit-total tal-kotba lil BDL.
- BDL jibgħat il-kotba ordnati lill-iskola biex jitqassmu lill-istudenti.
- L-iskola tirċievi wkoll il-voucher bl-ammont intitolat skont in-numru ta’ kotba ordnati.
- L-istudenti jingħataw voucher ta’ 25% mal-ktieb jew logħba li jordnaw li jista’ jissarraf mill-ħanut ta’ BDL, f’San Ġwann.
Eżempji
Jekk l-istudenti jordnaw 100 Dizzjunarju bil-Malti għat-Tfal, li jiswa €14.95, BDL jagħti lura lill-iskola voucher ta’ €800 biex tixtri kotba għal-libreriji tagħha kif ukoll 100 voucher ta’ 25% skont biex jitqassmu lill-istudenti mad-dizzjunarju li jkunu ordnaw.
Kampjuni tal-fuljetti
L-Ewwel Snin tal-Primarja
L-Aħħar Snin tal-Primarja
Ċimiterju li kien fih aktar minn miljun katavru uman mummifikat għadu kif instab waqt tħaffir fiċ-ċentru tal-Eġittu. Dan ikkonfermawh l-arkeologi.
Ix-xjenzati qalgħu aktar minn 1,700 mumja, ippreservati mis-sħana niexfa tad-deżert fir-reġjun Faiyum fl-Eġittu, madwar 96 kilometru fin-naħa t’isfel tal-Kajr. Iżda dawk li qed jiskavaw jemmnu li jaf hemm madwar miljun minn dawn il-mumji midfunin f’qatgħat tal-ġebel tal-franka, fejn uħud minnhom jinsabu f’fond ta’ madwar 22.9 metru.
Hu mifhum li dawn il-mumji ndifnu madwar 1,500 sena ilu, bejn l-1 u s-7 Seklu wara Kristu, meta l-Eġittu kien kontrollat mill-Imperu Ruman u dak Biżantin.
Kontra l-fdalijiet mummifikati famużi li kienu nstabu fl-Eġittu, dawn il-mumji nstabu f’oqbra tal-massa u jidhru li aktar setgħu kienu ċittadini ordinarji milli nies irjali jew figuri importanti.
Madankollu, ix-xjenzati baqgħu mħawdin għall-fatt ta’ dan in-numru kbir ta’ mumji, peress li l-villaġġ fil-qrib hu ċkejken ħafna u għalhekk ma kienx hemm ħtieġa ta’ ċimiterju hekk kbir. Terġa’ l-belt l-aktar viċina, imsejħa Philadelphia, għar-Re Ptolemy II Philadelphus, għandha wkoll iċ-ċimiterji tagħha.
Fost il-mummji skavati, l-arkeologi kixfu waħda ta’ raġel li kien twil 213 ċentimetru (aktar minn seba’ piedi).
Interessanti kienet ukoll is-sejba li tat x’tifhem li dawk b’xagħar safrani kienu midfunin f’naħa, waqt li dawk b’xagħar skur, naħa oħra.
Il-mummji misjuba għadhom ilkoll bl-organi interjuri intatti, u għalhekk, skont il-Professur Kerry Muhlestein, kienet il-klima u l-ambjent tad-deżert li ppreserva ġisimhom.
Għodwa waħda l-mamà u l-papà qamu kmieni iżjed mis-soltu għax riedu jgħaddu jaraw liz-ziju Toni l-isptar, li kien marid sew, qabel jerħulha għax-xogħol. B’hekk libsu f’kemm trodd salib u ħadu l-kolazzjon, iżda Luca u Elise kienu għadhom mitlufin fl-isbaħ raqda u ma kellhomx ħeġġa biex iqumu. Għall-ħabta tas-sebgħa nstemgħet taħbita ħafifa fuq il-bieb ta’ barra li kienet tindika l-wasla tan-nanna Marija, omm il-mamà. Hija dejjem kienet tieħu ħsieb lit-tfal meta l-mamà u l-papà ma jkunux id-dar. 
Bħas-soltu telgħet it-taraġ inkiss inkiss u baqgħet dieħla fil-kamra tas-sodda li kienet għadha kemxejn mudlama billi l-purtieri kienu magħluqin. Malli ntebħu bil-preżenza tagħha, Luca u Elise malajr tajru n-ngħas u tbissmulha qishom żewġ anġli żgħar. In-nanna għenithom iqumu mis-sodda, ħaslithom u libbsithom pulit għax riedet toħroġhom billi kien bnazzi. Tgħidx kemm kien jixraqlu l-jeans lil Luca, u l-qmis blu bil-kaxex sofor kienet tagħtih id-dehra ta’ raġel żgħir. Elise, li kienet sentejn akbar minn ħuha, kienet qisha sinjorina żgħira b’dik il-libsa ħamra tgħajjat u bis-sandli pariġġ.
Malli niżlu isfel, in-nanna tathom ftit ikel biex jitrejqu, rikkbithom fil-karozza u ħadithom il-bandli. Fit-triq wissiet lil Elise kemm-il darba biex ma titlaqx lil ħuha minn taħt għajnejha, u żżommlu idu l-ħin kollu ma jmurx jaqa’ u jweġġa’. Iżda malli waslu u niżlu mill-karozza, Luca telaq jiġri kemm jiflaħ u għalxejn bdew jgħajtulu oħtu u n-nanna biex jobdi għax ma riedx jaf. Huwa aktar kien moħħu biex joqgħod idur dawra tond fuq is-siġġijiet li jduru, u kultant kien jagħti xi ħarsa nebbiexa lin-nanna Marija li bdiet tirrabja u tinkwieta għalih mhux ftit. Meta sa fl-aħħar it-tifel kien xeba’ jdur fuq is-siġġu, resaq lejn il-bandla, tela’ fuqha u beda jitbandal b’tant qawwa li malajr għeja u ntasab bilqiegħda mal-art. Sakemm in-nanna ħalliet lil Elise titbandal ftit u tiżżerżaq maż-żurżieqa, marret fejn Luca u qaltlu li kienet se tugżah lill-mamà talli kien qagħad imqareb, iżda huwa ma riedx u nfaqa’ jibki. Hija tant infixlet li bdiet tkellmu bil-ħlewwa biex jieqaf mill-biki.
Ix-xemx ma damitx ma bdiet tisħon sew u għalhekk in-nanna u t-tfal ma damux ma reġgħu rikbu fil-karozza u rħewlha għal għand tal-ġelati. Tal-gabbana, raġel qsajjar u ftit ruxxan newwel il-ġelati tal-barmil lit-tfal u granita tal-lumi mdaqqsa lin-nanna li niżlitilha għasel. Fi triqithom lura d-dar Luca marret għajnu bih u Elise tħajret minnu wkoll, u xħin waslu kienu fl-isbaħ nagħsa. In-nanna refgħethom u daħħlithom fis-sodda u tgħidx kemm iggustathom reqdin għax kienu proprja żewġ Bambini sbieħ. Kienet għadha ma niżlitx it-taraġ li ma lemħitx lill-mamà dieħla lura d-dar mix-xogħol. Wara li ħadet belgħa te u kielet żewġ biskuttelli, in-nanna telqet lejn id-dar għax riedet tipprepara l-ikel għal filgħaxija, u l-mamà daħlet tistrieħ ftit maġenb it-tfal għax kienet ħakmitha l-għeja wara ġurnata xogħol. Ma kinitx tara s-siegħa u l-mument li, la jqumu, tagħtihom l-aħbar sabiħa li z-ziju Toni kien, f’daqqa waħda, qaleb għall-aħjar u li malli joħroġ mill-isptar, hi u l-papà kienu se jistednuh għall-ikel id-dar biex jiltaqa’ ftit magħhom u fl-istess ħin iferrħuh ftit wara li qatta’ diversi xhur fis-sodda.
