The original idea behind holidays is to give people a well-deserved chance to rest, recharge, and come back raring to go and more determined than ever.

However, Maltese students get none of this over the Christmas holidays, with assignments, exams, and studying all piling up around the time of Jesus’ birthday #ThanksJesus.

Instead of getting to enjoy the Christmas holidays, some Maltese students actually have to work harder in these holidays than in any other time of the year.

Here are some of the reasons Maltese students can’t even really enjoy their Christmas holidays even they totally should. 

1. Wanting to decorate your house with your family, but not being able to

“You guys enjoy the ribbons and the Santa statues, I’ll just be here studying what globigerina limestone is.”

2. Trying to celebrate Christmas, but knowing you are way behind

Who has time for fun when you don’t even know what the difference between conduction and convection is?

3. Wishing Christmas would take longer to arrive so you have more time to study

“Christmas is on the 25th, ey? Can we push it back? Ejja nagħmlu petition forsi jagħdi guys.”

4. Wanting to go on a Christmas holiday, but not being able to

You’ve heard of Christmas markets. You’ve even seen pictures of them online. But at this rate, you will have to just assume they are only real in fairytales and in movies. 

5. If you are an introvert, you’re really going to love all the family time in your near future

“Remember Uncle Ronnie? No? Give him a big wet kiss anyway!”

6. The build up to Christmas is non-existent

One second it’s mid-November, next second it’s Boxing Day. And all you gained in between was like, three pairs of socks and two kilos.

7. And you can’t even go out because of the weather

I thought Malta had beautiful weather, Wikipedia. Why do you lie to me. 

8. You don’t have enough money to do all of your shopping due to all the shopping you did

“I bought like, four things. How am I browk sal-bajd already?”

9. And if you have have a side job, you can say goodbye to your social life

You can always make friends when you’re like, 40 anyways.

Johnathan Cilia

Johnathan is an award-winning Maltese journalist interested in social justice, politics, minority issues, music and food. Follow him at @supreofficialmt on Instagram, and send him news, food and music stories at [email protected]