Safi (Malta)

Safi
(Ħal Safi)

coat of arms	map
Basic data
State :	Malta
Gzejjer :	Malta Xlokk (Southeast Malta)
Distretti :	South Eastern
Area :	2,283,579 km²
Residents :	2280 (December 31, 2018)
Population density :	998 inhabitants / km²
ISO 3166-2 :	MT-47
Postal code :	SFI
Website :	lc.gov.mt/Page.aspx?catid=74&pid=184&lid=1
politics
Mayor :	Peter Paul Busuttil ( PN )

Coordinates: 35 ° 50 '  N , 14 ° 29'  E

Safi (or Ħal Safi ) is a village with 2280 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2018) in the southeast of the island of Malta , near Birżebbuġa .

history

There are few sources on Safi's origins. However, based on the finds, it is believed that thousands of years ago Neolithic people built their houses in the area of ​​today's village of Safi. The Phoenicians and the Romans also lived here many years later.

The village as we know it today was founded around 700 years ago. Safi was surrounded by four other larger villages. The farmers met here to chat on their way home. A statue was later put up and that was the beginning of a new village as many people settled in the neighborhood.

In 1419 the village was already known as Ħal Safi. According to army records, between 80 and 90 people were registered as residents in 1419. The main occupation of the inhabitants was agriculture, especially the breeding of sheep and goats and agriculture.

The origin of the village name is not known. Some historians believe that it comes from the clean (malt .: safi) air in the village. Others think the name comes from the fact that no one was infected in an epidemic across the country in Safi. Both the coat of arms (a light blue stripe on a silver background) and the motto (Sine Macula, German: without blemish) indicate the meaning of the name.

Elevation to an independent community

For many years Ħal Safi was part of Bir Miftuħ. However, the residents wanted to be independent because the other village was too far away. Instead, they wanted to join the Żurrieq community, which was at least a little closer. When Monsignor Petrus Dusina visited in 1575 , the residents expressed their request. But they were not listened to.

Finally, in 1592, Bishop Gargallo decided to separate the places Ħal Safi, Imqabba and Ħal Kirkop from Bir Miftuħ. From the three villages he formed a community. Carl Taliana from Luqa became the first pastor. The residents of Safi were still not satisfied with the new situation, however, as they had to walk long distances to visit the parish church of Saint James in Ħal Kirkop to celebrate the sacraments, such as Holy Communion or a funeral.

When the residents of Safi learned that a new church was about to be built in Ħal Kirkop, they refused to donate any money.

In 1598 a delegation of 12 residents visited Safi's Bishop Gargallo. On behalf of all the residents, they handed him a petition demanding that the village, now numbering 210 souls, should become its own parish. This time the bishop agreed. In April 1598 a corresponding contract was signed before the Debono notary.

According to the agreement, the residents of Safi had to give the local priest every year for the feast of the conversion of St. Pay Paul a sum of money. Ġwann Mizzi was appointed as the first pastor. After only three months, however, he was promoted to pastor of Imqabba. So Marjanu Xiriħa took over his duties in Safi.

In those years there were 5 chapels in Safi. The largest - St. Paul consecrated - became a parish church. A bell was bought as a reminder of the elevation to its own parish. Portraits of St. Peter and St. Paul were engraved along with the inscription "Sancte Paule Ora Pro Nobis". The other four chapels were consecrated to saints: Agatha , Assumption of Mary, and twice the Nativity of Mary. Only the chapel of the Assumption of Mary is still preserved today; it was rebuilt in 1761.

The village festival

In 1575 there was already a small feast for St. Paul celebrated in the church. In 1725 things made great progress, as the celebrations in front of the church were also larger. In 1840 a statue was carried through the streets for the first time. This year the celebrations were well organized. They included fireworks, masks, band bands, and liturgical ceremonies. From this year the music bands became an integral part of the festival and in 1874 there was even a separate stage for the band. As the festivities grew bigger every year, a band club was founded in 1929 .

The two largest village festivals were celebrated in 1960 and 1984. In 1960 the landing of St. Paulus auf der Insel, 1984 to the Paulskirche Foundation. Pilgrimages, celebratory speeches, choir performances, performances by bands and fireworks were organized to commemorate the anniversary.

Until 1959, the celebration was on January 25th. From 1960 the festival was moved to the last Sunday in August due to the mostly bad weather in January.

In 1971 a new anthem was played. Its text was written by P. Callus and the melody was from Monsignor A. Muscat Azzopardi. In 1981 another hymn was written by J. Żerafa (text) and Monsignore E. Bugeja (music).

When Br. Michael Agius took over the priesthood, the festival activities were further expanded. On the initiative of St. Paul's Band Club, a new march for Friday evening has been added to the program. Another march was added on Sunday morning. And the fireworks organized another march for Sunday evening. Likewise, the decorations of various streets and the main square were enhanced with lights and flags for this religious festival.

The day after the Paulsfest is considered a holiday for all residents. Most of those who take part in the "Xalata" go swimming in Armier Bay.

Public life

In the past, most of Safi's residents were employed in agriculture. Others were soldiers. But there were also seamen, bricklayers, stone cutters, house painters, and quite a few of the residents were road workers.

Soon after World War II , many farmers left their fields and became government employees. Today the professions are more diverse; there are administrators, office workers, shipyard and factory workers. There are also many self-employed people and employers. Recently, the number of university graduates who have become doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants or managers has also increased. Farming today is mostly part-time, and for many it's a hobby rather than a livelihood.

At the end of the Second World War, the street lights and drinking water wells were no longer needed, as public services such as electricity, sewage treatment, post and telephone, tap water etc. were improved instead. In 1962, construction began on a new, modern school to replace the old one on St. Paul's Street.

In the 1980s, a new playing field was built at the new school, which was covered with plastic in 2000. In 1986 a new clinic was opened on St. George's Street. In addition, the number of houses and residents is constantly increasing. The shopping opportunities have also improved in recent years. The most common family names in Safi are Busuttil and Żammit.

The old streets of the village are all named after saints, but the newer streets have different names.

Like many villages, the people of Safi have no one in the government of the Republic of Malta. In 1994 Safi has its own local council, which now realizes many more projects for the population than was previously the case.

Web links

Commons : Safi  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ↑ StatDB of the National Statistics Office Malta , accessed on August 1, 2020