European Parliament Gets A Touch Of Gozo With Newly Installed Nativity Scene
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has officially unveiled a handcrafted Gozitan nativity scene inside the European Parliament, a piece that will now have a permanent home at the heart of the EU’s most important institution.
The crib, created by Għimmanu-El – Għajnsielem Crib Making Association, was donated so that Maltese craftsmanship and tradition can shine in Brussels every Christmas. This year, Metsola placed the nativity scene in the Parliament’s most prominent public space, where thousands of visitors will see it throughout December.
Speaking during the inauguration, surrounded by Maltese and Gozitan citizens living or working in Brussels, Metsola thanked the association and its president, Paul Stellini, for their dedication and for gifting a piece that will now form part of the Parliament’s official Christmas collection.
She described the crib as a reminder of how Maltese and Gozitan heritage continues to flourish thanks to passionate volunteers, whose work keeps cultural traditions alive at home and abroad.
Over the coming days, Metsola will continue meeting volunteers in towns and villages across Malta and Gozo, a time of year when the islands proudly showcase some of their most beautiful festive customs.
The Għajnsielem association also shared insight into the unique nativity scene now on display. While Maltese cribs have long been crafted from papier-mâché, this piece blends traditional design with contemporary techniques, influenced by renowned Italian artisans for greater structural precision and refined detail.
Yet at its core, the crib pays homage to the earliest days of Maltese presepju-making. Instead of painted figurines, the artists chose handmade, unpainted terracotta clay figures, fired and left in their natural state. Their simplicity is intentional, a nod to the humility and authenticity at the heart of the Nativity story.
The crib will remain exhibited in the European Parliament until early January, before taking up a permanent place inside the institution as an enduring testament to Maltese creativity.
What part of Maltese Christmas tradition do you think deserves a global spotlight next?
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