Malta embraces Halloween

Halloween in Malta has been on the rise in popularity over the last few years, and it seems like the island has well and truly embraced the tradition with more people than ever getting into the spooky spirit.

More than likely one of the reasons for Halloween’s rise in popularity is the numerous films and TV series that showcase the holiday, specifically American films and TV series where the holiday has been a time-honoured tradition since the 1900s.

Over time though, Halloween has slowly wedged its way into Maltese lives. Pamela D’emanuele, a resident of Swieqi, told MaltaToday, “Yes I dress up, I decorate my house, and we get dressed, and me and my kids trick or treat. It’s my tradition now. I meet friends, who know they can come to my house to trick or treat as I put decorations out.”

Another Swieqi resident, Dominique Pace Vincenti, said, “My niece’s birthday is on Halloween, so we normally do a Halloween party but usually I don’t bother no…I don’t decorate my house, but I do dress up.”

For others though, Halloween just isn’t part of Maltese culture, Anna Cremona from St Julian’s said “It’s not in the Maltese culture to celebrate Halloween, it’s an American thing…I don’t mind kids trick or treating but if they come to my door I won’t give them anything, I won’t treat them for sure.”   

Despite mixed reviews, popularity has grown for the holiday over the last few years, so much so that local councils across the island have started taking part, seeming to have jumped on the bandwagon and embraced the holiday.

Numerous councils have organised events on 31 October, mostly geared towards a younger audience. Notably, one of the biggest community events on the island is run by the Pembroke Local Council. Originally organised by residents, the event creates a safe space for children to ‘trick or treat.’ It caters for children between the ages of four to fourteen. The event starts off from Triq San Gorg Preca, at six o’clock this evening.   

Kevin Borg, Executive Secretary at the Pembroke Local Council told MaltaToday, “At first it was done as a spontaneous gathering started by the residents of Pembroke in Triq San Gorg Preca, but slowly as it gained momentum the council decided to get involved to organise an event that offers a safe environment for kids to go door to door.” Borg explained that during the event the surrounding streets will be closed off to ensure the safety of everyone participating.    

“People come from all over the island to attend, we’ve had buses full of people coming from the north and south,” said Borg.   

Other local councils, such as the Naxxar local council, are also hosting an event targeted towards local children. The event includes karaoke, practising penalties against Naxxar Lions goalkeepers, reading stories, treasure hunts and games. The event starts at 6pm at the playing field in Naxxar today.

The Valletta Waterfront is also hosting an event today which will include Children’s entertainment, outdoor games and other activities. It starts at 7pm and is completely free.   

While most of the community-organised events are geared towards children, on Friday 2 November Heritage Malta will be highlighting popular traditions and beliefs in the souls and the afterlife through “The Easter of Souls”, an event which will include a traditional supper meal inspired by various communities in remembrance of the deceased. This year the emphasis will be on coccia, a wheat-based recipe consumed in Maltese churches in 1575. People who participate will also have the possibility of a sleep-over at either one of the seventeenth-century prison cells, or elsewhere within the Inquisitor’s palace in Vittoriosa.