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.
Location
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.
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
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.
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.
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
