Christmas in Nadur

• Photos of the MUSEUM boys branch decorated

• Photos of Nadur cribs 

• Photos of decorated Nadur houses

As all other parts of the world, Nadur has its own Christmas traditions and festivities. Thanks to the Church, the MUSEUM and other organizations the Christmas spirit lives on in our town year after year. Looking back through the years, one cannot but observe that Christmas-related activities are on the increase.

The main streets and squares are decorated and lit with multicolored lights on the first week of December. At the same time numerous houses decorate their facades. Shop windows throughout December 13^th Street, the main square and other parts of Nadur display the usual Christmas decorations and a large variety of toys and presents to lure Christmas shoppers who jam the streets. Christmas trees and the figure of Santa Claus are seen all over the place. 

It's a well-known fact that some of Gozo's most beautiful cribs are made in Nadur. The MUSUEM-boys branch, the Youth Center, the PN Club, December 13^th Armar Committee, and other crib-enthusiasts keep their appointment year after year and build their traditional cribs… depicting Bethlehem 2000 years ago.

As in nearly all towns and villages in Malta, Nadur has got its own Christmas Eve procession with children carrying a statue of baby Jesus and singing Christmas carols along Nadur's main roads accompanied by the Mnarja Band. Then, on Christmas Evening a traditional variety show takes place at the Basilica, featuring also a special sermon by small child dressed as an acolyte.

An old tradition that is still kept alive in Nadur is the sowing of wheat, grain and canary seed (gulbiena) on clots of cotton in flat pans four weeks before Christmas and nurtured in the darkness of cupboards in the kitchen. These seeds shoot up and remain as white as Santa's beard! They are then placed next to the infant Jesus and around Nadur's cribs.

Christmas is a special time for everyone, especially children. And they have their own special day too at their MUSEUM branches. On a scheduled day they leave the branch with their Christmas presents… beautiful cribs and statues made by elder youths at the same branch.

The year ends and kicks off in prayer at Nadur's Basilica. The Kwaranturi is a special 40-hour marathon of prayer and thanksgiving. The annual Kwaranturi starts in Nadur on December 30^th at noon and end on January 1st.

This is the way the Nadurin celebrate Christmas… a very special time for all!