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| Claire in San Ġwann il-Battista Church, Ix-Xewkija |
For European cultures, Saint John is an special event. Many countries celebrates this day with different activities. They also celebrate the arrival of summertime.
The Grandma and her friends are visiting Ix-Xewkija today, a beautiful town in Gozo where they celebrate Saint John because he's its patron. In The Grandma's hometown, Andorra la Vella, today is a special day, too. They celebrate the falles in the Pyrenees, a cultural event declarated Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This event is also celebrated in Val d'Aran and Catalonia. From the distance, tonight, The Grandma is going to ignite a great bonfire to homage la Flama del Canigó, a flame which is ignited in Mount Canigó, Occitània and join Occitan and Catalan lands during Saint John's Eve.
More information: UNESCO
Xewkija, in Maltese Ix-Xewkija, is a village on Gozo Island. The population of Ix-Xewkija is the fourth largest in Gozo, after Victoria, Xagħra and Nadur.
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| Tina in San Ġwann il-Battista Church bell tower |
Ix-Xewkija, which is situated between Għajnsielem and the capital city, Victoria, is the oldest village in Gozo. It became the first parish outside Victoria on 27 November 1678.
It was separated from the Matrix by Bishop Glormu Molina and Dun Grezz Farrugia from Valletta, became its first parish priest. It became the first district contrada to be known as casale or village. The name is derived from the Maltese word Xewk, meaning thistles or thorns. Ix-Xewkija is famous for its church, The Rotunda of Xewkija, which is dedicated to San Ġwann il-Battista, St. John the Baptist.
It was separated from the Matrix by Bishop Glormu Molina and Dun Grezz Farrugia from Valletta, became its first parish priest. It became the first district contrada to be known as casale or village. The name is derived from the Maltese word Xewk, meaning thistles or thorns. Ix-Xewkija is famous for its church, The Rotunda of Xewkija, which is dedicated to San Ġwann il-Battista, St. John the Baptist.
It is the Seat of the Knights of the Order of St. John, and was built from Maltese stone by local masons and craftsmen. It is the largest in Gozo and its dome dominates the village. Its architect was Joseph D'Amato. It replaced an older church. The titular statue of Saint John the Baptist was sculpted in wood by Pietro Paolo Azzopardi in 1845.
On the site where the present church is, it was said that there was a stone known as Maqgħad ix-Xiħ. Near it there is a small ancient chapel known as Madonna tal-Ħniena, Our Lady of Charity, which was dedicated to San Bartilimew. The Santa Cecilia Tower had been in the limits of Ix-Xewkija.
More information: Visit Gozo
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| The Grandma contemplates the Majmuna Stone |
There is another tower with the oldest sundial in Ix-Xewkija. Remains of Tinghi Tower disappeared in the 20th century. These towers date back to 1613. The Gourgion Tower, which was built in 1690, was demolished during the Second World War to make way for a temporary airstrip.
The Majmuna Stone with an Arabic inscription dating back to 1174 was possibly found in Ix-Xewkija. It commemorates the death of an Arab girl named Maymūnah. The inscription is carved in a thick marble slab, on the underside of which there is a Roman symbol. Brother Gabrijel D'Alappo translated it into Italian and it was later translated into Maltese. It was sent to the Public Library in Malta in 1845 and brought to the Gozo Museum of Archaeology in 1960.
More information: Heritage Malta
The Banda Prekursur is the oldest organization in Ix-Xewkija. The coat of arms of Ix-Xewkija is a shield on a gold background with a red horizontal strip between two thorns, one above and one below. The motto of Ix-Xewkija is Nemo me impune lacessit, that is, No one shall attack me with impunity.
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| Joseph de Ca'th Lon visits the mill in Ix-Xewkija |
On the suburbs of the village there are the University of Malta. There are also the Gozo Stadium, the Government Farm, St. Mary's and Ix-Xewkija Cemeteries. The rising population in Ix-Xewkija needed more building sites for houses and housing estates have been developed at Tal-Barmil, Ta' Gokk and Tal-Hamrija.
On entering the village from the main road, one sees the remains of a mill erected in the times of Grand Master Perellos. This is unique mill in Gozo because it has points which show the eight principal wind directions.
More information: Gozo News
I like the look of a windmill.
Jeff Duncan
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