Editing Malta (section)

===Traditions===
Traditional Maltese proverbs reveal cultural importance of childbearing and fertility: "''iż-żwieġ mingħajr tarbija ma fihx tgawdija''" (a childless marriage cannot be a happy one). This is a belief that Malta shares with many other Mediterranean cultures. In Maltese folktales the local variant of the classic closing formula, "and they all lived happily ever after" is "''u għammru u tgħammru, u spiċċat''" (and they lived together, and they had children together, and the tale is finished).<ref>Cassar Pullicino, J. (1992) "A New Look at Old Customs", in [https://books.google.com/books?id=2TbaAAAAMAAJ ''Studies in Maltese Folklore''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907184538/https://books.google.com/books?id=2TbaAAAAMAAJ |date=7 September 2015 }}, Malta University Press (1992).</ref>
[[File:Carnival in Valletta - Costumes from the Renaissance 01.jpg|thumb|[[Maltese Carnival|Maltese carnival]] has been celebrated since the 1400s.]]
Rural Malta shares in common with the Mediterranean society a number of superstitions regarding fertility, menstruation, and pregnancy, including the avoidance of cemeteries leading up to childbirth, and avoiding the preparation of certain foods during menses. Pregnant women are encouraged to satisfy their [[food cravings]], out of fear that their unborn child will bear a representational birth mark (Maltese: ''xewqa'', literally "desire" or "craving"). Maltese and Sicilian women also share certain traditions that are believed to predict the sex of an unborn child.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

Traditionally, Maltese newborns were baptised as promptly as possible. Traditional Maltese delicacies served at a baptismal feast include ''biskuttini tal-magħmudija'' (almond macaroons), ''it-torta tal-marmorata'' (a spicy, heart-shaped tart of chocolate-flavoured [[almond paste]]), and a liqueur known as ''rożolin'', made with rose petals, violets, and almonds.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

On a child's first birthday, in a tradition that still survives today, Maltese parents would organise a game known as ''il-quċċija'', where a variety of symbolic objects would be randomly placed around the child. Whichever object the child shows the most interest in is said to reveal the child's path and fortunes in adulthood.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maltese Traditions: Il-Quċċija |url=https://www.airmalta.com/destinations/malta/blog/detail/maltese-traditions-il-quccija |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709143201/https://www.airmalta.com/destinations/malta/blog/detail/maltese-traditions-il-quccija |archive-date=9 July 2019 |access-date=9 July 2019 |website=Airmalta.com|date=2 March 2015}}</ref>

Traditional Maltese weddings featured the bridal party walking in procession beneath an ornate canopy, from the home of the bride's family to the parish church, with singers trailing behind (''il-ġilwa''). New wives would wear the [[għonnella]], a traditional item of Maltese clothing. Today's couples are married in churches or chapels in the village or town of their choice, usually followed by a lavish wedding reception. Occasionally, couples will try to incorporate elements of the traditional Maltese wedding in their celebration. A resurgent interest in the traditional wedding was evident in May 2007, when thousands of Maltese and tourists attended a traditional Maltese wedding in the style of the 16th century, in [[Żurrieq]].{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}