An ethnographic analysis : the everyday rhythms of the pjazza in Ħaż-Żebbuġ

Abstract

The local council of Żebbuġ organises several activities during the year in the pjazza of Żebbuġ where they open the pjazza to the people. The quote above is a comment from the local councillor during one of our exchanges. His idea is that when cars are not allowed in the pjazza, the pjazza is not ‘closed’ so the public can use it, but it is ‘opened’ for the public to use. This is a statement to attest to the idea that the pjazza is a contested space in which different ideas of how it is designed and used, come together in making it a central space for social, political, and cultural activities of the village. The events organised by the local council are pedestrian and family friendly events that usually happen on Sunday mornings, or on public holidays when adults are more likely to be off from work, and children not at school. There is a sense of safety during these events, children ride the bicycles in the middle of the road, elderly people cross calmly across the roads and the sense all around the pjazza is joyous. Together with the religious festivities and rituals such events bring a diverse number of people to the pjazza. The way people use the pjazza is different in many ways. The ‘pjazza’ is a socio-economic centre of village life on the Maltese islands. The pjazza in Żebbuġ is a public square that is found in the geographic centre of the village. The pjazza is not only a physical space but also a social, political, and cultural centre of interactions that play a central role in routines of everyday life in the village of Żebbuġ. This study aims to explore the multifaceted functions of the pjazza’ s centrality. Drawing on ethnographic research and participant observation, the study examines the ways in which the pjazza plays a significant role in the everyday life of the village. The pjazza is host to several village events, such as festivals, markets, and political rallies, this paper delves into the study of rhythms through the social interactions of the pjazza and the networks of social relationships in the pjazza. These actions can form a recognizable rhythm over time, ultimately shaping the user's perception of the space and the space itself. The pjazza of Żebbuġ is a symbolic representation of the village values and identity. The activities and rhythms of the public in the pjazza is different to other areas of the village and vary over time. By highlighting the significance of the centrality of the pjazza in the social, political, commercial, and cultural life of the village, this study aims to contribute to the understanding of the pjazza is produced as a centre place of the village through everyday practices.