I refer to the report entitled BOV “Istrina” Campaign in full swing (TMID, 15 December).

May I point out that the correct word is not istrina but strina from the Italian strenna which means a present donated on the first day of the year or on Christmas Day (strenna natalizia).

When I was still a child, people still talked of new year presents as strina in Valletta and elsewhere.

The initial “i” in istrina is the euphonic vowel (vokali tal-lehen) used when the word follows the article, hence l-istrina, but should never be included when the word is used in isolation.

Otherwise it would be like saying iskola instead of skola.

This mistake has crept in ever since the annual campaign started to be organised and has persisted throughout the years.

While it is hoped that this irritating error would be eliminated once and for all, one wishes success to the “strina campaign” for this year.

Dr Mario Costa

Moscow

Russian Federation