Qrendi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Qrendi | |
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Motto: Tyrium Dirutas Servo Moles |
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| Official name: | Il-Qrendi |
| Inhabitants' name: | Qrendin |
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| Latitude: | 35°50 '3" N |
| Longitude: | 14°27 '32" E |
| Population total: | 2,525 |
| Borders: | Mqabba, Siġġiewi, Żurrieq |
| Patron saint: | St. Mary |
| Day of festa: | 15th August (St. Mary); 1st Sunday of July (Our Lady of Lourdes) |
| Website: | qrendi.gov.mt |
Qrendi or Il-Qrendi is a small village in the southwest of Malta, with a population of 2,525 people (November 2005). It is near Mqabba and Żurrieq. Within its boundaries are two well-known Neolithic temples called Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim. In this village two feasts are held annually. The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes is celebrated either on the last Sunday of June or on the first Sunday of July, with the August 15 the titular feast of the Ascension of Our Lady. This feast is popularly known as the feast of Santa Maria.
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[edit] History
The area where Qrendi lies today has been inhabited since approximately the 38th century BC. Near the temples of Mnajdra and Ħaġar Qim, the remains of shaft graves, field catacombs and other archaeological evidence proves that there was a settlement that existed at Qrendi during the Temple period.
The first written records of Qrendi date back to 1417, when 26 households were recorded on rolls of obligations for militia service. The surnames recorded show that about half of all instances of the residents' surnames are still prevalent in the village of Qrendi today.
During the reign of the Knights of Malta, a number of octagonal watchtowers were constructed for the garrison of Knights to protect the village from pirates and corsairs. Later this was followed by two more towers on Qrendi's coastline as part of a defensive ring erected by that patrolled the coastline for enemy shipping. They both still stand today: one built by Grand Master Martin De Redin is situated at Wied iż-Żurrieq complete with its original gun (now converted to a police station) and the other, Torri Ħamrija, is situated on the grounds of Ħaġar Qim and is built by Grand Master Juan de Lascaris-Castellar.
Qrendi was a popular location for some of the Knights, with a number of them building large summer villas in the village. There are four in Qrendi's centre, with Guarena Palace and Gutenberg Palace in the outskirts.
When the British arrived in 1800, Qrendi was put under a magistrate, whose staff were equipped with a walled garden for their sustenance. This garden, known as "Il-Gnien Tal-Kmandant", was built on the authority of the Maltese governor Sir Alexander Ball and is today open to the public.
During the Second Siege of Malta in World War II, when the Axis forces attempted to bomb the islands into submission, a number of strongholds were built by the British to prepare for action in North Africa against Erwin Rommel's forces. A substantial number of bombs fell on Qrendi during this period, causing a number of casualties to anybody who failed to get to the rock-hewn underground shelters in time. The front of St. Matthew Church in the village's centre was destroyed during an air raid, which has since been rebuilt.
An airstrip was also built at this locality for the Allied invasion of Sicily. Little evidence of this exists today, although buildings and a section of runway can still be seen to the north of the village.
Under the Local Councils Act 1993, Qrendi was constituted a district with its own local council. Five councillors are elected for the village, with one of them being made the mayor.
[edit] Qrendi today
Although the majority of the village's old core buildings remain today, Qrendi has changed considerably in recent times. A bypass road has been built to divert through-traffic away from the village, modern suburb developments has been built and an open space with a bus terminus has been created in front of the Parish Church by removing the walled grounds from an old villa.
The village is very quiet, as many of the Qrendin keep themselves to themselves, which gives the visitor a sense of relaxation and tranquillity in the narrow streets. There are no tourist cafes in the centre of the village. However the residents are friendly and will usually give a cheery greeting to any passers-by.
[edit] Churches and chapels in Qrendi
On Qrendi's coastline one can find the Maqluba, an enormous karstic depression, which fell from the cliff during a storm in 1343. According to legend a small chapel at its entrance was there at the time, which must make it one of the oldest surviving Christian buildings in Malta.[citation needed]
There are seven churches and chapels in the parish, most of them constructed on the site of earlier structures. The first parish was set up in 1436, when the village was within Żurrieq's parish. Qrendi became a separate parish in 1618.
The ornate baroque Parish Church, designed by Lorenzo Gafà the architect of Mdina Cathedral, was completed in 1720.
[edit] Feasts
From the July 30 to August 15, Qrendi's band clubs stage elaborate week-long religious and profane 'festas' complete with musical performances, processions, street parties and pyrotechnic exhibitions. There are also several lesser 'fieras' and celebrations. The first day is called 'Kwindicina', where everyone is able to attend High Mass, before meeting up at the village square for food and entertainment.
During the following week, each day is dedicated to a different section of Qrendi society. Such celebrations include:
- Religious Groups Day
- Altar Boys Day (when the altar servers renew their promises)
- Aged and Handicapped Day
- Children's Day
- Family Day (for those who have their 10th, 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries
- Word of God Day
- Religious Orders Day and Renewal of Faith Day (many baptisms are held on this day)
The fireworks for the celebrations are made locally by volunteers in two nearby firework factories.
[edit] The Statue of St. Mary
On August 9, the statue of Our Lady is taken out to a prominent place in church. Crafted by sculptor Antonio Chircop (1748-1869), this unique wooden statue is made from a solid trunk and all decorations that form this sculpture are entirely unique and uninfluenced by any other statue during the period. The statue has been altered twice, the first by Francesco Sciortino (1875-1958) who added silver colouring to the clouds, and Manuel Sciberras in 1977 who added four bouquets and a garland of flowers underneath the clouds.
During this period of the festivities, guest bands from other villages come to attend besides Qrendi's local band clubs, which play amidst the fireworks demonstrations and displays. The celebrations continue from this day to the 15th.
[edit] Band clubs in Qrendi
There are two band clubs in Qrendi: the Saint Mary’s Band and the Lourdes Band. They play during village's feast period, as well as prepare the fireworks, elaborate decorations and entertainment for the festivities, and play a central role in Qrendi's society and culture.
[edit] Firework factories in Qrendi
Qrendi's firework factories, which produces the pyrotechnics for Qrendi's feasts and those of many of the other villages on the Maltese Islands, are made by volunteers.
There are two in the locality, each owned by one of the two band clubs based in the village. These are Saint Mary's Fireworks Factory and Lourdes Fireworks Factory. The latter has recently introduced pyrotechnic-musical shows, the first factory to introduce them, and have become a staple part of Qrendi's Our Lady of Lourdes feast. Work is underway to expand such displays into other feasts.
[edit] Accidents
Both factories has been involved in a number of accidents during its existence, which has cost the lives of five people.
During the 1950s, an explosion at the Lourdes Fireworks Factory killed one worker and injured another, which caused the buildings to close. It was eventually reopened in another building in November 11, 1976.
In May 22, 1972, an explosion at Saint Mary's Fireworks Factory occurred which killed local villager John Falzon. This prompted plans and preparations for a new, more modern factory to be built, which began in September that year. On the February 10, 1974, another terrible accident occurred when Emanuel Aquilina, Martin Mallia and Jack Bugeja lost their lives whilst manufacturing some fireworks. In the midst of this latest disaster for the Society the joy of Qrendi's firework production turned became monotonous and emotional.
However this did not deter the residents, who helped to rebuilt the factory and improve safety techniques to the latest standards today. This included the installation of electric power and the widening of the road leading up to the factory to allow fire engines and ambulances to access the complex. Following the feast of 1974, a stone statue depicting Our Lady of the Assumption sculpted by the Society's future President Martin Formosa when he was just 17 years old, was placed over the entrance of the factory to keep a watchful eye and protect all those entering the St. Mary's Fireworks Factory.
[edit] Qrendi Main Roads
- Pjazza Tal-Maqluba (Tal-Maqluba Square)
- Triq Buhagiar (Buhagiar Street)
- Triq Chircop (Chircop Street)
- Triq is-Siġġiewi (Siġġiewi Road)
- Triq it-Tempesta
- Triq iż-Żurrieq (Zurrieq Road)
- Triq l-Imqabba (Mqabba Road)
[edit] External links
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