SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES - 17 & 18

   Social habits during the first years of the British occupation

      During the first years of the British occupation many residents of Senglea continued earning their living from maritime activities. There were many who were proud that for generations their families were renewed for the construction of sea faring vessels. Many were captains or sailors who roamed from one place to another in the Mediterranean Sea. In old days they were not known as ‘captain’ but as ‘patron’ because the ‘captains’ used to own the ships. Their main destinations were Tunisia, Libya and Algeria. They used to carry animals and buy all material needed for our islands. They also used to carry letters to Maltese living in these countries and naturally bring back replies to their relatives in Malta.

     Senglea lost a lot of its importance as a port when the Admirality took over the Grand Harbour so that he could build the dockyards. This way Senglea lost the direct link it had as a port. The same happened for the goods coming in from the countryside through Ghajn Dwieli.

     The sailors’ pay was rather meagre but the captains used to let them buy useful things like cigars and tobacco which they then could be sold once the sailors returned to Malta. Most of the sailors were the breadwinners of their families and many had families residing in Senglea. Their return from these voyages was greatly anticipated and some people used to stay on lookout from vintage points in Senglea and when they saw a ship coming they used to let the families of the sailors about the impending arrivals. It used to take the ships about two hours from the time it was spotted till it docked in the Grand Harbour. When the sailors returned home they used to be met by musicians who used to create a welcoming party for them.

     The musicians were also used in other occasions, such as when a woman gave birth, they were called to play music by the front door. When some little child got lost the family used to book the crier to announce this sad event and let everyone know about the missing child. The crier used to draw the attention of the people by the ringing of a bell and informing one and all that if the child is found he/she should be returned to his/her family.

     The crier had another job. He used to go round the streets of Senglea screaming and shouting his head off informing everyone that a new consignment of tobacco leaves had arrived. The tobacco leaves used to be stored in two stores in St Joseph Street, beneath the kinder school which had its entrance in Two Gates Street. These two stores were previously used for another totally different purpose. They were used as cells when the police used to lock up persons of ill repute for the night – that is from sun set to sun rise. In those days the policemen’s uniform was made up of a short jacket and they had a cylindrical hat. They used to carry a truncheon which was inscribed with the initials of the reigning king or queen of England.

SENGLEA THROUGH THE AGES - 18

   The Good Friday procession in the 19^th century.

     Up to just over one hundred years ago the procession of Good Friday used to be held on Maundy Thursday. During the times of Archpriest Dun Vincenz Cachia (1800-1822) we notice that there were some changes in the statues carried out for the procession. In 1802 a well to do family from Senglea donated to the Fraternity of the Crucifix, a statue of Jesus Christ crowned with thorns and dressed the purple mantle. The statue was donated in thanks given for the liberation of our islands from the occupation of the French. Maintenance work was also carried out on the statue of the sepulchre.

     We also have some information regarding the period of Archpriest Fiteni (1822-1852). In those days the Fraternity still had seafaring members, some of whom were also captains. The devotion they had towards the statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer was great and it was shown by the many ex-voto pictures which used to hand on the walls of the Oratory of the Crucifix. Most of these pictures were made as a sign of thanks for being saved from shipwreck. Later on all these pictures were removed and put in the basement of the Oratory. During the times of Archpriest Fiteni the Good Friday procession was second in importance only to the titular procession. The Good Friday procession used to start at about six in the evening and finish at about half past eight at night. Naturally the streets of Senglea had to be lit up so iron sconces holding flames were put up along the streets of Senglea.

     The little statues which were very light were carried by youngsters during the procession. The statue of Jesus Christ the Redeemer was carried by the captains and sailors. The sepulchre was carried by important people of Senglea and by the captains. Later on this statue started to be carried out by priests. The main statue in the Good Friday procession has always been the statue of the Crucifixion. Since those early days the band used to accompany the procession staying in front of the statue of the Crucifixion and play funeral marches all throughout the way.

     A seven year old girl dressed up as St Michael used to take part in the procession. Three year old boys used to be dressed up in sheep’s clothing to represent St John the Baptist, the Precursor of Jesus Christ. They used to put these little boys sitting down next to the statues. The procession’s importance was further increased when a group of military men took part in the procession.

     When Dun Anton Cordina (1879-1890) became Archpriest he started to hold the procession on Good Friday. At first he found some opposition for this change because many habits die hard, but eventually he had it his way. Glormu Darmanin was restoring the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows in 1879 – the year he actually died. Most of the other statues know their origin to Karlu Darmanin. He made the statue of Jesus Christ beaten scrounged and the statue of the Veronica. He also made the new statues of Our Lady and Mary Magdalene used in the statue of the Crucifixion. In 1881 he also did some maintenance work on the sepulchre. When the time of Archpriest Cordina was coming to an end, in 1890, the statue of Jesus Christ in the garden of olives and the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows were restored by L. Cafiero. Karmena Ghio made a new sheet which is used hanging from the cross in the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows.