Hamburg is the second largest German town. It has about two million citizens. Hamburg is situated in the North of Germany, upon the Elbe, and it has a very big harbour where amongst other things you can see huge container ships.

In Hamburg there is much to be seen at Christmas time. In many places Christmas market have been set up and everything is decorated very nicely. You can go to a lot of concerts and Christmas plays. The city centre is illuminated in a particlular way; it looks like a sea of lights. 

Unfortunately, at Christmas time we usually don't have any snow, but nevertheless you can get a Christmay feeling.

Easter Traditions in Malta I

On Maundy Thursday we go to mass. The parish priest chooses twelve men who represent the twelve apostles to wash their feet like Jesus did for the Last Supper. In the evening some people go in different churches to say a prayer to Jesus. People go to watch statues exhibitions, too.

On Good Friday adults aged over 18 can fast. Children don't eat sweets on Good Friday. In the evening there is a procession with statues that goes round. Roman soldiers and other Bible personalities walk behind the statues bare footed. The fourteen statues represent the suffering of Jesus, for he died on Good Friday. Good Friday is the only day when mass isn't celebrated in churches.

On Saturday there is a mass in late evening where people wait till midnight to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Easter Sunday there is  a procession with the statue of Christ. The children follow the procession with the Easter eggs and figolli so that Christ will bless them. Figolli is the Maltese traditional sweet that is made with pastry, ground almonds and it is covered with icing or chocolate and a figolla can be formed in different shapes like a rabbit, duck, heart and many more.

Easter Traditions in Malta II

On evening Maundy Thursday we are supposed to visit seven churches. After Maunday Thursday there is Good Friday. On Good Friday people thale our the statues and some people do the procession. People who make the procession dress like Roman soldiers, Jesus and many more. On Saturday people hear mass where we celebrate the resurrection at eight o'clock in the morning. On Sunday there is Easter. Some children have Easter eggs with soft toys. On Easter Sunday we have traditional sweet called "Figolli". "Figolli" is made of pastry, ground almonds and icing or choclate. Wednesday we celebrate "San Girgor". We participate and we draw someting and sometimes we win. On Wednesday after Easter the Maltese people celebrate the feast of San Girgor when they have the first swim in the summer.

Easter is our favourite holiday. We like eating Easter chocolate eggs.

Love from Bernice, Christine and Kimberley.