The National Museum of Ethnography in the Inquisitor’s Palace at Vittoriosa has just organised seven educational sessions focusing on the cultural heritage associated with Lent and Easter traditions in Malta. This event was organised in collaboration with Heritage Malta’s Education Division to continue giving due importance to the intangible Maltese heritage.

Stretching to almost 100 days, the period from Carnival to Pentecost embraces some of the islands’ strongest religious traditions and the most intense period in the liturgical calendar. Over the years it made a huge impact on the artistic and socio-cultural heritage of Malta.

200 participants from different primary schools took part in an interactive programme based on part of the permanent exhibition at the Inquisitor’s Palace entitled ‘Passio et Resurrectio: The Cult of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection from Lent to Pentecost’. Linking past traditions to recent developments, this display offers a different perspective on the theme since it explores the rich socio-cultural and artistic legacy connected to this time of year.

After a visit to the exhibition the students were invited to participate in a cooking session during which they prepared a figolla, the traditional Maltese almond-filled pastry which is prepared during Lent to be consumed on Easter Sunday. They also took part in a thematic craft session during which they produced a bookmark depicting an Easter chick which is one of the main symbols of Easter.

This educational event forms part of Heritage Malta’s educational programmes at the National Museum of Ethnography and other museums throughout the year. In 2009 almost 6,000 students took part in educational programmes organised by Heritage Malta at the Inquisitor’s Palace.