Quċċija

Malta, or the Republic of Malta as it is officially known, is located in the central part of the Mediterranean Sea. Malta is actually an archipelago which includes inhabited islands of Gozo and Comino and several smaller uninhabited islands. People in Malta have rather interesting tradition celebrating a child's first birthday. The tradition is called Quċċija(Choosing). Local people believe that it predicts child's future. Several object are laid on the floor. Each object has symbolic meaning. Such objects are pen for a writer, a measuring tape for tailor or seamstress, a rosary for a religious person, a hard boiled egg meaning a house full of things, money for an accountant or generally business person, a thermometer for a doctor, a piece of gold for a person who likes jewellery. Some other objects can be added too. After all the objects are laid a child is put in front of them. The object child touches first will be dominant in her or his life. At the party that follows, everybody drinks to the health and future prospect of the child. The local delicacies like for example Xkunvat (sweets made of honey) are served too. Finally, it has to be said that traditions similar to quċċija exist in remote villages of Sicily, southern Italy and Greece.