Ghonnella : a British-styled allegory for twentieth-century Malta

Abstract

Malta’s national costume is usually considered to be the għonnella or faldetta; a particular woman’s head dress and shawl, or hooded cloak, unique to the Maltese islands. Its historic origins remain elusive and does not relate to Melita except for gender. Travellers and historians equally commented on similarities between the għonnella and oriental fashion dress, Sicilian, Spanish and Southern European costume. The earliest visual record of its use dates back to the early years of the Order of St John in Malta. Travellers then oftentimes defined għonnella as a curiosity, with some remarking that it made women look like ghosts