In an age where cultural hegemony has meant the loss of tradition, it is up to a determined few to keep crafts alive. Pawlu Muscat and his wife Tanya are the only people who still make traditional Maltese Nativity figurines (pasturi) on the islands.
Pawlu - who sells the figurines at his workshop in Birkirkara and also attends a number of fairs around the island - including Bethlehem Ghajnsielem (which will come to a close at 8pm on Sunday, 7 January) - works on the actual modelling of the figurines. He even offers personalised versions of the figurines, producing a model he made of a friend.
His wife, Tanya, intricately paints them, but jokes that the eyes will always remain a challenge: "Sometimes I end up getting half of their face black!"
Pawlu explained how the art of pasturi was brought to Malta by the Knights of St John early in the 17th century and would typically adorn traditional Maltese clothing. This, he said, remained the dominant style until World War II, when the more refined Italian style grew in popularity.
His experience with the craft started with fond memories of the owner of a neighbouring corner shop, who used to make the figurines. However, it was only about 10 years ago that he and his wife took up the craft more seriously.
"We had decided to make our own set, and after being asked to present them at a fair, I was approached by a tourist and two Maltese people, asking if they could buy some", he said. "At the time, I made about 28 different figures - we make 78 different ones now!" he said.
Pawlu remains optimistic regarding the future, explaining that he has noticed an increase in popularity year after year since he began, and the search for more authenticity, tradition, and culture following the advent of the internet.
"We used to sell about 100, but this year we've sold 500. We've lost our connection with tradition over the years and I think people are starting to feel it. We've notice what we've lost and we are trying to keep it up. It's almost like the way people look at antiques."
Children, he said, also seem to be extremely interested in the craft and he would like to promote the activity with the younger age group.
"We want children to start young so that they can continue the tradition. In fact, that's why we insist on keeping the price low, so that any child can walk in here and get a figurine for themselves."
Traditional Maltese culture remains at the core of Pawlu's craft, with the figurines depicting historical professions such as salt-harvesters.
The woman wearing the għonellah remains the most popular. Pawlu explained that, along with the Grand Master, it is the only figurine that wears shoes and does not hold any object, highlighting her noble status.
"Maltese people also love food, so naturally the pastizzar is one of the most popular," he joked.
Maltese tradition remains at the heart of Pawlu's craft and the recent inclusion of a figurine depicting St George Preca is clear evidence of this.
"Christmas wasn't so popular in the past. Remember, most Maltese people worked in agriculture and so it is a time of the year when they are particularly busy. It was only when St George Preca began promoting the Christmas traditions that the Maltese thought it was important for them to include him, in the same way that the Italians associated themselves with St Francis."
Despite their present association with a traditional Christmas crib, Pawlu explains that the figurines remain more popular during the Feast of St Peter and Easter Week.
"The year is always full: as a matter of fact, as soon as the Christmas season is over, we'll get started on the Feast of St Peter," he said.
Pawlu went on to explain how the figurines also revealed the cultural intricacies across the island.
"We have a figurine of a woman holding a bird and one of a hunter. These do not sell at all in Malta but remain very popular in Gozo, showing the deep relationship Gozitans have with agricultural and animals in general."
Pawlu has also noted some cultural changes, pointing towards the traditional figurine that used to depict a farmer hitting a sheep.
"In the past this ill-treatment of animals was seen as something normal, but people are not really interested in that sort of thing nowadays."
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2BZ747Q
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