One late October morning, Visit Gozo met up with Giovann Cassar to delve a little deeper into the world of artisanal crib making. A retired policeman, the 65-year-old enjoys a variety of activities, but there is no doubt that we’ve stumbled upon a man that is in love with the art of crib-making. Tucked beneath his home, his sprawling workshop is a testimony to his artistic works including flag making and festa-related work. In one nook of his workshop lies an impressive crib setup within the majestic arena of the Valletta Grand Harbour. The crib is complete with water and sailing vessels…
The crib was always present in Giovann’s childhood home. It was his father, a member of the Museum (Society of Christian Doctrine) community who instilled the fascination. As a little boy growing up in Rabat, a step away from the Capuchins’ Friary, Giovann and his brother Mario spent a lot of time there. Christmas meant a lot of traditions and rituals mainly the setting up of a large crib in the church and the manger for Baby Jesus above the main altar. As an altar boy serving the Capuchins, he would later come in contact with friars like Fr Vitor Buhagiar from Xagħra, who was an avid crib maker.
Giovann recounts his childhood memories, when at Christmas time, his brother Mario and himself, would clear the desk and set up a crib on this table. This crib, in papier mâché, had been made by his father and the boys extended the diorama with rustic stones, known locally as ‘ġebel tal-gagazza’, and inserted quaint add-ons, like the traditional windmill and a donkey mill. In those days, the crib was more static but as they grew, the brothers developed an interest in mechanical and moving cribs.
Giovann describes that in those years, crib building involved getting some rustic stones from Xagħra, which was known for its caverns and caves. The rocks were ideal for building nativity scenes. The major turning point for Giovann came when he joined the Għaqda Ħbieb tal-Presepju Għawdex – Malta, his eagerness to join them. Meeting other passionate like-minded Friends of the Crib Gozo – Malta, which had been just been founded in Gozo in 1985. He reminisces about reading the note in the newspaper about the newly-setup club and individuals, namely Frank Mizzi, Anton Galea and the late Joe Galea, opened the doors for more creativity in the realm of crib building. The trips to places like Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic to attend international congresses about crib making, widened his horizons and pollinated his ideas.
As new materials were introduced or became available, Giovann’s artistry took another dimension and his creativity flourished. Giovann’s original stone cribs have now been replaced by cribs built out of polystyrene and these new materials are the cornerstone that allows for flexibility and creativity that knows no bounds.
Giovann was the first crib maker in Gozo to rope in Gozitan scenic renders. Giovann’s proud of his Gozitan roots and over the year his cribs have become an ode to many Gozitan pastoral scenes and historical landmarks. Every year he prepares a crib for his home. His crib is a real experience that is complete with music and light that manifests dusk and dawn heralding the birth of Christ. One of his first cribs, exhibited the Citadel, with the nativity scene devotionally stealing the central stage. Later he would invest in recreating many other places like the Ġgantija temples, the Friary of Capuchins, the hamlet of Santa Lucija, the village of Fontana and Wied il-Lunzjata. Always a man seeking new challenges and endeavours, Giovann could not ignore the seascapes that are so synonymous with Gozo. As a nod to the sea, the ever-present element of island life, Giovann, built cribs that feature Dwejra, Xlendi Bay, Xwejni and even the old Mġarr harbour with the overlooking Lourdes chapel on top. The crib featuring the capital city of our island, which was originally set up at the Banca Giuratale was also exhibited abroad.
Building a crib for someone like Giovann is not an activity bound by the Christmas season but an all-year-round pursuit. It starts with the germination of an idea and Giovann explains how he is always on the lookout for untouched places on the island. As the concept evolves in his imagination, Giovann sketches his designs, always keeping in mind that the grotto has to be the centre of attention. Ultimately the final rendition has to capture the atmosphere of that first Christmas night. Once his idea has advanced, he consults with his son Paul about the overall artistic and technical aspects of light and music. From then on, he shuts himself away in his workshop, often working long hours for days on end. Giovann’s eyes light up as he explains that ‘this’ is not work, but a true labour of love. It is at this point that the process of crib-making blesses him with so much joy. He speaks of the anticipation of Christmas, with the same aura, as that of a child expectant of the night before Christmas.
When it comes to the ‘pasturi’, or the little statuettes, Giovann explains that there are namely two styles – the biblical and the popular styles. He recounts how every Christmas he still sets up his mother’s crib using an old set of papier mâché Italian statutes that have been in the family home for several generations. When it comes to his cribs, Giovann is proud of the artistic set he currently displays. Today many local artists have delved into the art of creating statuettes. In fact, the Għaqda Ħbieb tal-Presepju, has organised courses on how these figurines are made.
This year Giovann’s Christmas promises to be busier than usual. As the new president of the Għaqda Ħbieb tal-Presepju, his main aim is to continue encouraging the local scene, especially the younger generation and families to continue the tradition of setting up the crib at home. He visits school children, giving demonstrations of practical crib making. In the meantime, the organisation is organising its yearly Christmas exhibitions at the hall of the Ministry for Gozo and another at St. Augustine’s Priory. Giovann is also keen on more collaboration between different crib-making groups, including those on mainland Malta.
As he wishes a peaceful Christmas to all, Giovann’s message for the Christmas season is a simple one, worthy of the artist he is and of the genuine love he has for Baby Jesus and the nativity story – ‘Let there be no home without a crib’.
VisitGozo would like to thank Mr Giovann Cassar for welcoming us to his workshop and for the interview.
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