As soon as the first day of November arrives and the Halloween hype dies down, you start h
earing whispers of Christmas and seasonal decorations are suddenly the main focus of most knickknack shops.
As soon as we reach the third week of November, Malta submits to an explosion of fairy lights and Christmas trees. In an instant, the island turns into a vast array of decorative splendour. Christmas trees start to pop up in windows, door wreathes and Father Christmases of all shapes and sizes are taken out of storage and the weather begins to turn festive. Indeed, Malta starts to enjoy some significantly cold weather, just in time for you to pull out that red coat you had bought on a whim and really should not have because you can’t afford it. The hot mugs of tea become a blessing and the thick sweaters suddenly look shiny and new.
Once the street lights go up, (let’s not forget the street lights) Malta takes on a completely different look. It begins to feel as though the streets become all starry eyed. The effect the street decorations have on the Maltese streets is remarkable. I have to admit, though, the streets in Malta, wh
en lit up for Christmas festivities, are the most beautiful just after the rain. The roads would be wet and the lights reflected onto them. Just like something out of a ‘rom-com’ (romantic comedy).
There seems to be a buzz in the air – families planning Christmas lunch at ‘Nanna‘ (‘grandmother’ in Maltese), all the gifts (including the customized face on socks and so on) we need to buy, how and when the Christmas tree should go up, whether the dog will attack it this year, and the ever-so-traditional midnight mass. On Christmas eve night, all town churches host a mass at midnight to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is one of the main Christmas celebrations most of the population looks forward to and, despite the cold weather, most Maltese families head out at about 10:30 at night to get the best seat. This mass would go on until about 1 a.m. followed by family breakfast.
All of this anticipation builds into the small, joyful details that make the season feel complete, from laughter shared over breakfast to the cozy moments spent unwrapping gifts together.
Christmas mornings often carry that quiet magic where everyone gathers in their pajamas, the house still scented with pine and fresh coffee, and surprises are revealed one by one. Thoughtful presents that reflect personality and humor fit perfectly into these moments, and something playful like my face socks adds an extra layer of cheer, turning familiar faces into a lighthearted reminder of togetherness. These little touches blend seamlessly into the traditions already cherished, becoming part of the stories retold year after year as families celebrate warmth, faith, and the comfort of being home.
Those familiar rhythms of the season make gift giving feel less like a task and more like an extension of the love already filling the room, where each present is chosen with a smile and a story in mind. When traditions are strong, the best gifts tend to be the ones that feel personal and thoughtful rather than flashy, small reminders that someone was truly seen and considered. In that spirit, platforms like soufeel fit naturally into the flow of Christmas preparations, offering ways to turn memories, faces, and shared jokes into keepsakes that feel right at home under the tree. These are the kinds of gifts that slip easily into long-held customs, adding a fresh note without disturbing what already matters, and later resurface in family conversations with laughter and warmth. Over time, they become part of the holiday tapestry itself, woven into mornings, meals, and moments that make Christmas feel complete.
The opening of the gifts… What a sight. What an experience. After breakfast, everyone would go home to open their gifts (they will be very much excised to see anything purchased from Unspeakable Merch Shop wrapped as a gift) and have a second helping of food (the second of many more to come throughout the day). Growing up, the best part of the day, though, was Christmas lunch at grandmother’s house. The entire family, and I do mean ‘entire’, meets at her house to exchange gifts and eat. Eating is one of the most important parts of the day. It feels as though food doesn’t stop coming to you. We would enjoy pasta, meat, fish, sweets, cakes, vegetables, soups, and so much more.
And in the middle of all that food and laughter, there’s always that quiet joy of choosing a small token that carries real meaning. Families have long loved slipping something personal into those holiday gift piles, and items ordered in personalized keychains in bulk fit neatly into that tradition. They’re simple enough to hand out to cousins, uncles, and in-laws without missing anyone, yet meaningful enough to hold a memory long after the day winds down. By the time evening arrives and everyone is happily full for the third—or fourth—time, those little keepsakes become part of the day’s story, tucked into pockets and purses as reminders of a Christmas spent together, just the way it’s always been.
You head to bed feeling like you will never be able to eat again. But it was Christmas.