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kukkanja, which were practised in Palace
Square opposite the Grand Master's Palace in
Valletta. Others opine that the sport must have been
introduced from nearby Sicily in later days.
Be that as it may, perusal of some old prints would
suggest that the sport flourished some time after
the start of the British period of domination in
these islands, following the expulsion of the French
under Napoleon in 1798. In fact a particular print
shows the Union Jack hoisted both on a high pole as
well as at the end of the greasy pole, to be
snatched by the winner.
Whatever the historical connections, the sport had
become very entertaining, as can be verified from
the accompanying picture which was taken at Msida. The
barge carrying the greasy pole is the centre of the
fun game in action, with a ferryboat close by used
to tow the barge itself. The very large number of
spectators, both from high vantage points and in all
types of small and large craft including luzzi,
dgħajjes and frejgatini is ample
evidence of the sport's popularity at the time.
The spectators know that to run up the greasy pole
is no mean task, and there is always the danger that
moving quickly up the pole tends to unbalance many
participants, who often fall awkwardly into the sea
and at times even hurt themselves. Consequently, on
the whole the ġostra attracts the younger and
more daring sportsmen.
It must be mentioned that to reach the target, the
sportsmen have to run up a pole that is smeared with
grease or some other slippery element. Its total
length is about 10metres and it protrudes from the
crossing over to Malta, we find that people still
recall how the Turks, having landed at Marsaxlokk,
proceeded from Żejtun towards St George's Bay,
Birżebbuġa, as far as Tal-Brolli. The Maltese were
under the command of the knight Murines (Umberto de
Murines), who vowed that he would erect a church in
honour of Our Lady of Loreto if the Turks were
defeated.
In the ensuing struggle the Maltese came Out
victorious and the church was erected to fulfil the
vow. But the stones were miraculously transported
some 200 Yards to the rise overlooking St George's
Bay, on top of which the church now stands. An old
painting (1548) in the small church shows a knight
kneeling in prayer while the Turkish armada is
approaching the island.
In a variation of this intervention theme the
19th-century historian Count Ciantar mentioned an
old custom which was subsequently abolished. On St
Paul's Day (February 10) it was customary for the
farmers in the vicinity of San Pawl to Prepare a
banquet Each one gave some in or its equivalent
great disorder. The Bishop prohibited them, and
together with the Apostolic Visitor, ordered that
the money usually spent should, in future, go
towards the saying of Masses to be celebrated on
feast days for the benefit of the inhabitants of
that neighbourhood.
And so it happened that on the day of that saint a
strong bull, tightly bound though it was, broke
loose of the ropes that bound it and set out at a
run until, arriving before the door of the church,
it paused for a while, then continued its headlong
run to the shore and plunged into the sea.
On account of this those peasants believed that it
was a clear indication that the Apostle Paul was
displeased because the feast no longer being
celebrated in the original manner. They went before
the Bishop, pleading their case and asking
permission to continue with the custom of preparing
the usual banquet; but the prudent prelate,
following the orders of the Holy See, instructed
them to abide by the decree and thus an old
tradition came to an end. |
