https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/904 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:58:39 GMT 2026-04-16T12:58:39Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145466 Title: Siġġiewi in the late 18th century (1790–1800) investigating society throughout the entire lifespan : from birth until death Abstract: This dissertation investigates the social, religious, and demographic landscape of Siġġiewi between 1790 and 1800, examining how a rural Maltese community experienced everyday life during a decade marked by political upheaval, famine, and socio-economic strain. Employing a life-course and microhistorical approach, the study analyses the parish registers of baptisms, marriages, and deaths alongside selected parish administrative sources. These records provide a detailed reconstruction of family formation, reproductive patterns, mortality trends, and devotional practices, enabling an assessment of both continuity and adaptation within village society. The findings reveal a community characterised by remarkable structural resilience. Family life largely followed established Maltese patterns—nuclear households, early adulthood marriage, and high infant mortality—yet was periodically disrupted by crisis. The French occupation and subsequent blockade (1798–1800) caused a sharp decline in baptisms and marriages, alongside a dramatic surge in mortality in 1799, reflecting the effects of famine, disease, and armed conflict. Nonetheless, these disruptions proved temporary: parish life quickly rebounded, and long-standing social frameworks endured. Religion emerged as the principal anchor of community identity. Daily devotional routines, confraternities, liturgical feasts, and pastoral leadership reinforced cohesion, even during periods of political instability. Evidence from the registers—including cases of refugees, foundlings, illegitimacy, clerical succession, and wartime casualties—demonstrates how broader events were filtered through the intimate spaces of family and parish. By foregrounding the experiences of ordinary villagers, this dissertation contributes to Maltese social history by highlighting the interplay between continuity and crisis. It shows that Siġġiewi, despite facing profound external shocks, preserved the essential structures of family, faith, and communal life that defined it at the close of the eighteenth century. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.) Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/145466 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144606 Title: Street decorations in the Maltese festa : the feast of Saint George in Qormi as a case study Abstract: The Maltese festa is a major cultural and religious celebration that blends devotion, community participation, and artistic expression. A notable example is the Feast of Saint George in Qormi, celebrated on the last Sunday of June. Central to the event is a solemn procession in which the statue of the saint is carried through the town’s streets, symbolising Catholic devotion in community life. Historical records from 1575 identify Qormi as an active parish, and over time, the town developed a tradition of honouring its patron saint through annual celebrations that have grown in scale and complexity. To coordinate the festa’s external activities, the Kumitat Festi Esterni San Ġorġ Martri Qormi (KFESĠMQ) was established in 1919, assuming responsibility for planning, fundraising, logistics, and volunteer coordination. This dissertation explores the historical development, organisational structure, and strategic operations of the KFESĠMQ, with a focus on street decorations as expressions of cultural identity and artistic heritage. Using a qualitative case study approach, it examines how the committee responds to contemporary challenges, including demographic change, rising costs, urban development, and regulatory demands. While festa committees preserve Malta’s intangible cultural heritage, the future of these celebrations depends on adaptability. This research highlights both the resilience and limitations of the KFESĠMQ, concluding with strategic recommendations aimed at ensuring the feast’s continuity, particularly through the preservation of street decorations. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144606 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144605 Title: Monsignor Edgar Salomone : his pivotal role in the community of Mġarr Abstract: This thesis explores the significant contribution of Monsignor Edgar Salomone to the village of Mġarr. Serving as parish priest throughout much of the early 20th century, Salomone’s influence reached far beyond religious duties. He played an active role in shaping the village’s social life, improving education, supporting healthcare, and driving local development. When Salomone arrived, Mġarr was a small and poor village. Over time, he helped change it into a more organised and active community. Using letters, church documents, interviews, and other records, this study shows how Salomone helped build the parish church, supported education, gave medical help when no doctor was available, and looked after the people during World War II. He also worked closely with British officials to get help for the village. Salomone’s story shows how a parish priest could be a strong and caring leader in a small village. Today, many people in Mġarr still remember him with respect and affection. This research helps us understand how religion, leadership, and community life were connected in Malta during this time. It also shows the lasting effect one person can have on a whole community. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144605 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144603 Title: Adapting to change in Maltese viticulture Abstract: This dissertation explores how Malta’s viticulture sector is adapting to a combination of environmental and socio-economic challenges, including climate change, land scarcity, demographic shifts, and economic pressures. Despite its relatively small scale, the sector holds significant cultural, historical, and economic value. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study draws on semistructured interviews with fifteen key stakeholders, including vineyard owners, wine producers, agricultural consultants, and policymakers, to examine how adaptation is taking shape across the industry. The findings reveal that while Maltese viticulture faces systemic constraints such as fragmented landholdings, a rapidly ageing farming population, and the erosion of traditional knowledge, it also demonstrates notable adaptive capacity. Producers are investing in sustainable agricultural practices, such as precision irrigation, biodiversity integration, and organic fertilisation. The preservation and commercial revival of indigenous grape varieties, particularly Ġellewża and Girgentina, feature prominently as both a cultural and strategic priority. Some wineries are experimenting with vitivoltaics, combining solar energy generation with vineyard shading, as part of broader sustainability efforts. Technological innovation remains uneven, largely due to high costs and small plot sizes; however, initiatives such as sensor-based soil monitoring and mechanised pruning are gaining traction. Cultural branding and storytelling have also emerged as powerful tools, helping producers differentiate Maltese wines in competitive markets. Additionally, policy incentives and EU funding schemes have enabled investments in training, land rehabilitation, and modernisation, though access remains inconsistent. This research contributes to the broader understanding of agricultural resilience in small island contexts by offering a grounded, sector-specific case study. It concludes with practical recommendations aimed at enhancing the sustainability, competitiveness, and long-term viability of Maltese viticulture through coordinated investment, education, and cultural preservation. Description: M. Malt. St.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144603 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z