Christmas in Gozo

Abstract

Preparations for Christmas in Gozo initiated on the first day of November with the chase of dogs and cats. Some of the hunters used to set out in a company or on their own, at about seven in the evening, betting on who would catch the best animal. The hunters used to await the cats coming out from the old cellars in the ancient part of Rabat, Gozo. On catching them, they would chuck them in a sack, dehydrate and inflate them. A reed with holes in it was inserted in the skull. Through this reed the player produced the various musical sounds. The beast's paws almost touched the player's head. No musical sound could be produced if the skin had the least crack or the tiniest hole through which air could seep. Some musicians used to insert a reed pipe ("bedbud") in their bagpipe ("zaqq").