Watch: Middle Eastern Tourist Reacts To Maltese Fireworks And The Public Snaps Back
A TikTok posted two days ago by a Middle Eastern tourist has sparked debate across Maltese social media.
In the video, captioned “Celebration hits different when you’re a child of the Middle East. I can’t do Malta,” she jumps at the sound of festa fireworks and later asks a local what the loud booms are.
View this post on Instagram
While many TikTok users responded with sympathy and humour, reactions on Facebook were harsher. Some Maltese users defended the tradition, while others remarks like “Go back to your country” and “Mela qatt ma ħarġet mid-dar din jew?” (Has she never left her house?). Others mocked her by asking she soiled herself from fright.
The backlash raises questions: should tourists be more respectful of local customs, or should locals show more empathy especially when someone’s reaction might stem from past trauma?
Malta’s fireworks are a proud cultural tradition, but this moment highlights the tension between defending heritage and practicing compassion. Understanding doesn’t erase identity it strengthens it.