All you need to know about What's On Gozo for Christmas.

From: http://www.visitmalta.com/en/event-deta … -gozo-7877

Gozo is preparing for you an array of festivities and special events which will be spread out in the various villages. The activities will run throughout the whole month of December into the first week of January.
In the programme: Christmas Markets, Children's Fun Park, Nativity Scenes, Cribs, Art exhibitions, Choir performances and carol singing, and the highlight of the season, the ‘Betlehem f'Għajnsielem' live crib. Shops will be full of beautiful gifts and fine products and the streets and bars decked out in festive decorations and lights.


Programme

1.    Bethlehem f ‘Ghajnsielem
6th December - 4th January2014

Friday 5th December 2014 at 6pm - Programme organised by the Gharb Local Council. A contingent will be leaving from the village of Gharb and progressing to Republic Str in Victoria where the street lights will be officially inaugurated by the Minister for Gozo Dr Anton Refalo.

Saturday 6th December: Opening of the sixth edition of Bethlehem f' Ghajnsielem by the President o Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca at 5.30pm

Betlehem f'Ghajnsielem live -crib will be animated on the following days:

DECEMBER 2014

Saturday 6th : 4.30pm - 9.00pm

Sunday 7th : 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Monday 8th : 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Saturday 13th : 4.30pm - 8.30pm

Sunday 14th : 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Wednesday 17th : 9.30am - 1.30pm

Thursday 18th : 9.30am - 1.30pm

Saturday 20th : 4.30pm - 8.30pm

Sunday 21st : 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Thursday 25th : 3.30pm - 8.00pm

Friday 26th : 4.30pm - 7.30pm

Saturday 27th : 4.30pm - 8.30pm

Sunday 28th : 2.30pm - 7.30pm


JANUARY 2015

Thursday 1st : 3. 00pm - 8.00pm

Saturday 3rd : 4.30pm - 8.00pm

Sunday 4th : 2.00pm - 8.00pm


2.    Gozitano Agricultural Village

12th, 13th, 14th/19th, 20th, 21st December

The Gozitano Agricultural Village will be hosting a series of events and activities. The site will be transformed by music, illuminations and food stalls offering an impressive selection of wines from 17 different countries and 37 different wine regions with over 1000 different wine labels of wine, and a wide range of local delicacies from the recently launched ‘Ogygia' range. Other traditional mouth-watering Christmas fare will also be available from these stalls. Other Gozitano attractions include production of traditional Christmas sweets produced by the Institute of Tourism which will also be displaying a unique crib hand-made entirely from chocolate. Visitors will also get to sample the locally produced Gozitan artisan beer, Lord Chambray, which was first launched on the market last summer.

Two exhibitions will be set up during this period, one by various artists depicting a Nativity theme, curator Paul Stellini, and a photography exhibition depicting never seen before pictures of Palestine entitled: Palestina: a reality in photos, curator Elaine Zammit Haber.

3.    Fantasija u Talent
13th & 14th December

Two days in which students from various schools and parishes will exhibit local talent: singing, play acting, dancing etc. This event will be held at the Villa Rundle, however in case of bad weather everything will be transferred to the Gozo Sports Complex located in Europa Street, Victoria.

4.    Dinja tat-tfal
‘Hallu t-tfal jigu Ghandi'
19th, 20th, 21st December

Dinja tat-tfal: A children's fun park is being held at Gozo Sports Complex, Victoria to give children the opportunity to meet their Favourite Disney characters and enjoy a variety of activities such as rock climbs, merry-go-rounds, bouncy castles, train, pony and rodeo rides. Main characters which will be animating the event will be Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Dora & Diego, Tom & Jerry, Barney, Super Mario, Bugs Bunny, Fireman Sam, Hello Kitty, Spiderman, Minions, Olaf, Mickey & Minnie and our own Nanna Tona and Nannu Pawl. It will be possible to take a photo with the various characters.

Win a trip to Euro Disney:
Children attending the event will be eligible to win a free trip to the Paris EuroDisney. To participate one just needs to make use of the Special Christmas Card which is being distributed in the various schools by dropping the appropriate coupon in the drop off boxes which may be found wherever the main Christmas activities mentioned in this programme are being held.

The event is being organised by the Ministry of Gozo, Christmas in Gozo Committee in collaboration with Buzzy Kids Entertainment, Abraham's, All Care Insurance Agency, Arkadia, Calypso Trains, David's Bakery and The Duke.

5.    Artisan Christmas Village Pjazza San George
12th, 13th, 14th December

An Artisan Christmas Village organised by the Victoria Local Council will be held in St George's Square on the 12th, 13th and 14th December.
St George's Square will be transformed into a typical Christmas setting with festive wooden huts offering a wide range of merchandise related to Christmas, including a variety of decorations, cribs, crafts and seasonal foods etc. There will also be daily children's story telling. A variety of entertainment for all ages will take place over the three days.
Everyone is warmly welcomed to visit and have a look around, enjoy the festive spirit, get a bite to eat and perhaps find that special Christmas gift you have been looking for.

6.    ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
Christmas Eve, St George's Square, Victoria

A musical activity will take place on Christmas Eve just after Midnight Mass. This will consist of a Grand Christmas concert by the Gozo Youth Wind Band. The event will provide a spectacular concert including guest pop singers with evergreen Christmas songs, carols, arrangements, medleys amongst others. Come and join in the Christmas Cheer

7.    Karmni Grima Museum
This museum will be open during December and there will be on exhibit a unique, antique crib dating back to the 1900 belonging to Karmni Grima (a Maltese peasant whose mystical religious experience led to the construction of the church of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu). One will also find local Maltese food and local traditional entertainment including a folklore band.

8.    Cribs Exhibition -Victoria
An exhibition of artisan cribs will be held at the Ministry for Gozo main exhibition hall. Another attraction nearby which one may visit, is the small permanent exhibition of cribs located in Republic Str, Victoria (next to post office).

9.    New Year's Eve Concert - Victoria Gozo
A New Year's Eve concert will be held at St Augustine Square Victoria Gozo. The free celebrations are being organised by the Victoria Local Council and they are open to everyone. Festivities get underway at 10.00pm.

10.    Various Choir Concerts
Carols by Candle Light with the Scoula Cantorum Jubilate at St. Augustine's Church in Victoria: 5th & 6th December - 7.30pm
Chorus Urbanus at St George's Basilica in Victoria: 20th December
Children's concert - Nadur Parish church: 25th December
Venite Adoremus - St Cecilia Choir at St Francis church, Victoria: 27th December
Puer Natus Est - Xaghra Parish church: 28th December

11.    Processions organised by the MUSEUM children association will take place in different villages around Gozo on Christmas Eve.
These processions are now an established tradition and will allow one to peak into the way locals celebrate Christmas. A statue of Baby Jesus is taken round the streets of the village accompanied by children carrying lanterns and singing carols. Philharmonic Bands will be accompanying the children during these processions.
The main processions are those organised in Nadur (starting at 7.00pm), Victoria (starting time TBC) and Xaghra (starting at 5.00pm).

12.    Midnight mass led by Bishop Mario Grech will be held at the Gozo Cathedral (Victoria)

13.    Arrival of The Three Kings
4th January 2015

Morning - Xaghra:
La Cavalcata dei Re Magi: A Triumphal entry into Victory Square in Xaghra of the Three Kings on horseback clad in oriental royal costumes will follow a public manifestation welcoming the Holy Family accompanied by the Shepherds and angels.

Evening - Ghajnsielem:
Tolfa - Mellieha - Ta' Passi : The Three Kings, which would have left Tolfa a few days earlier, will arrive in Ghajnsielem on camels wearing traditional costumes and bearing gifts. This will mark the closure of the Bethelem f'Ghajnsielem Nativity Crib.

14.    European Christmas Tree
This year, Gozo is participating in a European Christmas Tree Decorations Exchange in a collaboration between the Gozo College Gharb Primary School and various European Primary Schools. This project involves and exchange between over 200 schools from across the EU. The air of this project is to educate students through a creative and fun activity. Each school is required to prepare packs with general information about their country explaining how they celebrate Christmas, their Christmas traditions and myths, traditional songs and Christmas recipes. Each school must submit Christmas tree decorations which have been made by the students. Schools will exchange these packs with other 30 schools selected by Europe Direct Information Centre and each region will put up a Christmas Tree with the various decorations sent from the participating countries. In this way, one would have managed to disseminate information about other countries and their cultural traditions.

15. IL-ĦAĠAR - HEART OF GOZO Museum
Permanent exhibits include the Baby Jesus urn mentioned by De Soldanis in his description of St George's parish church.
Till 4th January there will be an Exhibition highlighting Art in Maltese Stamps, including Christmas sets with original paintings and drawings.   
A papier-mâché crib is being set up with terracotta figurines: this artwork by George Farrugia emphasises the simple and humble inherently spiritual rustic life, highlighting the Betlehem grotto.

A special Christmas treat will be the display of set of clay and papier-mâché statuettes (up to 29 cm high) by artist Ġużeppi Giusti (1906-1993) whose work has been hailed as being of the finest quality.

Following last year's positive experience, three Noon pre-Christmas Concerts will be held on Saturdays in collaboration with the School of Music: two by students and one by the Laudate Pueri choir.

16.    Fun Train Tours
Enjoy a fun filled tour on the Calypso Train starting from Mgarr finishing off at Gharb, stopping en route at the main Christmas attractions being held.
Stops include:
•    Bethlehem f'Ghajnsielem
•    Xaghra Cribs
•    Gozitano Agricultural Village
•    Victoria
•    Gharb (Karmni Grima musuem)

Make most of the special reduced train rates which are being offered during the Christmas period.

Other Attractions:

Ghajnsielem:
A beutiful crib made by the renowned artist Paul Stellini with statuettes made by the promising sacred art artist Manwel Farrugia will be on display in Ghajnsielem.

A Christmas Tree made up entirely from recycled material will be set up in the main square of the village. The making of this Christmas Tree involves the direct participation of children and their parents.

Nadur:
Live Crib In Praesepio will be held between the 15th December and the 4th January. This live crib is set in a 300 year old house of character which takes you back in time and portray life in Gozo in the old days. Opening hours to be confirmed.
‘Festo Christi Natalitio' - An exhibition of Sacred Art with Christmas as its theme will be held between the 15th December and the 4th of January. Location: Nadur Local Council.

Xaghra:
Around 27 Artistic Large Cribs set in various religious centers and homes of the villagers of Xaghra and at the Xaghra Parish Church will be open for public viewing from the 20th December 2014 till the 5th January 2015.

The Guiding Light Group (Nazzarenu area) will also be holding a live crib. Further details to be announced.

Qala:
A Choir Festival will be held in the Qala Parish Church and the Qala Folklore Museum will hold and exhibition related to Christmas. Details to be announced.

Santa Lucija:
13th December: Traditional illuminations will light up the village.