Gozo Christmas Village – Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem 2018

Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem Gozo 2018

 

Christmas Village - Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem, Gozo Malta

Gozo Christmas Village or as it is popularly known as Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem opens on Sunday 9 December 2018 at 3.30pm and remains open until Sunday 6  January 2019 8.00pm.

This is the tenth edition of one of Malta’s main attractions during the Christmas holidays.  The ‘holy’ family in the above official poster is Joseph Azzopardi, Melanie Azzopardi and baby Thea.

Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem Gozo 2018

Location

Gozo Christmas village

The Nativity Village takes place in an area locally known as ‘Ta’ Passi’. It is just a stone’s throw from the main centre of the village-by-the-sea of Ghajnsielem on the island of Gozo, Malta. The whole animated village is spread over a 20,000sqm of land and through various combined works of the local council and volunteers, the first Christmas village is created to provide a wonderful Christmas atmosphere.

Hospitality

All visitors upon arrival at the Gozo Christmas village will receive a map illustrating all the traditional and new Christmas village attractions to visit and a children’s quiz booklet. Entrance is free.

Gozo Christmas village official map - Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem Gozo

 

Attractions

Some of the primary attractions include

  • the main grotto with a local family dressed as Mary and Joseph with their new born as baby Jesus
  • Bethelehem Inn
  • bakery
  • blacksmith
  • wine tavern
  • the fisherman’s port
  • a suspended rope bridge
  • cabin
  • shepherds’ cave
  • room of scents
  • local crafts
  • Roman garrison
  • eatery
  • open air market
  • Roman arena
  • animal farm
  • farmers’ store
  • village houses
  • water mill
  • water wheel
  • panoramic point

Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem Gozo 2018

Traditional food

Visitors to this year’s edition can enjoy some of the traditional food including Maltese bread and buns, the local pizza like known as ftira, honey rings and traditional coffee and Gozo wine.

Gozo bread dough

Gozo bread

Gozo Christmas village - honey rings

Epiphany visit

The Christmas village comes to a wonderful end with the arrival of the Three Kings on horseback on Epiphany Sunday afternoon 6 January 2019.

Christmas village Gozo

Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem near Mediterranea Seaviews Gozo

Re-enactment time schedule

December 2018

Sunday, 9th December 3.30pm – 7.30pm

Wednesday, 12th December 9.30am – 12.00pm (animated by school children)

Thursday, 13th December 2.30pm – 7.30pm

Saturday, 15th December 4.30pm – 8.30pm

Sunday, 16th December 2.30pm – 7.30pm

Saturday, 22nd December 4.30pm – 8.30pm

Sunday 23rd December 2.30pm – 7.30pm

Tuesday 25th December 3.30pm – 8.00pm

Wednesday 26th December 2.30pm – 7.30pm

Friday, 28th December 4.30pm – 7.30pm

Saturday, 29th December 4.30pm – 8.30pm

Sunday 30th December 2.30pm – 7.30pm

 

January 2019

Tuesday, 1st January 3.30pm – 8.00pm

Saturday, 5th January Activity Magi in Malta

Sunday, 6th January 2.00pm – 8.00pm.

 

How to get here

From Valletta bus station, take bus #41 or #42 direction to Cirkewwa ferry terminal from where you get the next ferry to Mgarr ferry terminal. Once arrived in Gozo, it is just 10 to 15 minutes walk up to the Gozo Christmas village. At the exit of the terminal, you can also take bus #301, #303 or #323 and stop at the bus stop Chambrai on the Mgarr Road or proceed to the next bus stop Ghajnsielem in the very centre of the village of Ghajnsielem.

From the Mgarr ferry terminal it is just 10 to 15 minutes walk up Shore street and turning left to Mgarr road.

You can also take bus #301, #303 or #323 and stop at bus stop Chambrai.

The Christmas village is just across… on the same side you’ll see the big church of Our Lady of Loreto, Ghajnsielem.

From Victoria bus station it is 10 to 25 minutes bus ride. You can take bus #301, #303 or #323 and stop at bus stop Ghajnsielem in the village square or on Mgarr road by stopping at the bus stop Chambrai.

From Gozo Holiday Home it is just 10 to 12 minutes walk or 3 minutes by bus #303 to bus stop Ghajnsielem in the very centre of Ghajnsielem village or 5 minutes bike ride by our free new bicycles.

 

Courtesy: Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem Facebook Page

New Year’s Eve on Gozo

Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem Gozo 2017

New Year’s Eve is celebrated in all the towns and villages dotting the island of Gozo landscape.

If you plan to stay out with family and friends, day temperature is expected to be around 18 degrees Celsius falling to 14 degrees Celsius at night. No showers are expected.

Early afternoon on New Year’s Eve between 2.30pm and 6.00pm, the live animation at Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem Christmas village will take place once more. Then, on 1 January, New Year’s Day, animation will be between 3.30pm and 8.00pm. The venue is just 10 to 15 minutes walk from the Mgarr harbour.

Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem Gozo 2017

 

Another place worth visiting on New Year’s Eve is certainly the live crib named In Praesepio which takes place in the nearby village of Nadur. Live animation will take place between 4.00pm and 7.30pm on New Year’s Eve and again between 4.00pm and 7.30pm on New Year’s Day. Public transport from Mgarr harbour to Nadur centre by bus #303 and #322.

Inpraesepio Chrismtas in Gozo facebook

 

The main event on New Year’s Eve will once again takes place in Independence Square and St George Square in the very centre of capital Victoria. Some of the bands and DJs in this year’s concert will include The New Victorians, JJoy and Friends Live. It will start at 10pm.

Victoria is easily reached from Mgarr harbour by public transport #301, #303 and #323.

New Years Eve Gozo

Wish you a truly wonderful New Year 2018 filled with peace, love and harmony!

 

Happy New Year from holidaysongozo.com