Il-Maktur

Another Lejla Maltija production in conjuction with Anidroc Productions.
The song is available for streaming here on the link below.


Below is an explanation of the lyrics and their illustration of a bygone age in Malta.

Il-Maktur tal-Ħarir Abjad is a white silk handkerchief which was part and parcel of the wedding customs in Malta. A young man would fancy a girl that he had seen and ask her parents for her hand in marriage. Very often he would seek the services of a ħuttaba, a match a match maker. The girl in question would get the chance to see him before the decision is taken. If her opinion was positive she would present him with a white silk handkerchief, normally with lacework all around the edges. He would send her a ring in the shape of a fish and this would seal their engagement.

The problem with this text, which has been adapted from original old tales is that there are some disparities with the above described and official version of Maltese Wedding customs. This text raises questions about individuals who for some reason flouted this sacred tradition. It obviously mentions the well known custom, which can sometimes still be seen today, of boys lining up on the Strada Irjali, (Valletta’s main street, today known as Republic Street) courting or flirting around with the girls who in their turn are dressed in their Sunday best to impress. One must understand that Valetta, even today is called ‘Il-Belt’ by the locals, meaning ‘the city.’ It used to be the only city, the only place where certain shops and offices would be. Leaving the village to go to the city was no slight or everyday undertaking. Girls sent to do the shopping would start very early in the morning and come back laden with all the articles that they could not find in the village markets.

 Il-Maktur

Kont għaddej minn Strada Irjali,
Għadda Ġuvni u ittantani,
Missli il-qoffa biex jinkini,
U fastidju irid itini.

 I was walking along Kingsway, 
A guy came by and flirted with me, 
He touched my basket to tease me, 
And embarrassed me. 

Lejn ir-raħal nerga ‘mur,
Lil-missieri nugzaħ żgur.
Taħt is-siġra jien kellimtu,
U hemmekk tani il-maktur.

 I will go back to the village, 
I will surely accuse him to my father, 
Under the tree I talked to him, 
And there he gave me the handkerchief. 

 She is embarrassed and she will definitely get into trouble if anyone in the village learns that she has allowed boys to speak to her. However she met him under a tree and the handkerchief was exchanged. Here there are a couple of disparities, the first of which, I think, can be explained by a little oversight or mistake in print or writing records throughout the ages. I suggest that the last line should read “U hemmekk tajtu il-maktur,” which would read that “There I gave him the handkerchief,” instead of him giving it. This would make sense in the marriage tradition. However the fact that she met him under a tree, gives the impression that it was a secret meeting, one that no family would allow. Why? It took me a long time of searching throughout the web and libraries to come up with some sort of answer. Then I found it in the refrain.

Il-Maktur, tal-Ħarir abjad,
U iċ-Ċurkett tal-fossa blu.

The white silk Handkerchief, 
And the ring with the blue stone. 

 The ring that the bride-to-be would normally receive would be one in the shape of a fish, normally gold. Where does the ring with the blue stone fit in? Finally in some old Maltese Catholic Church records I found an important document. It was a statement by the Church whereby Christians were given permission to wear birthstone rings, that is rings with their birthstone embedded into it as long as it did not interfere with their faith. Hailing from bygone pagan and primitive traditions, it seems that the Church had been fighting a battle with non-Christian traditions amongst its followers. Then there was more. The Arab era in Malta made a lot of impositions on the Maltese, but they never stifled religion or custom. Christians were only made to pay higher taxes and had more restrictions on trade. The resilient Maltese showed off their patriotism and belief by wearing these type of rings and in such manner distinguish themselves from their Arab rulers. This makes this rhyme suddenly brim with a strong passionate Romeo and Juliet type story where two star crossed lovers will come to suffer, meet in secrecy for they come from two opposite families. Maybe this is why the tale has survived. The two possible conclusions are that he was a Christain and that she was a Muslim in Arab ruled Malta, or that she came from a devout Catholic family whilst he belonged to masonic or pagan sects as they might be described although the truth is that by wearing such rings it was more like a trend, a fashion statement. In a very devout medieval Malta such a trend would attract the hatred, aggression and intolerance of all.

Minn ġo din it-triq se nerġa ngħaddi,
Ġo din it-triq se nerġa immure,
Għax hemmekk għandi il-ħanini,
Ixxejjirli il-maktur.

Once again I’ll walk along this street, 
Through this street again I’ll go, 
Because there is my darling, 
Waving the handkerchief.

Il-Maktur, tal-Ħarir abjad,
U iċ-Ċurkett tal-fossa blu.

The white silk Handkerchief, 
And the ring with the blue stone. 

Minn ġo din it-triq għaddejt u ngħaddi,
Ġo din it-triq se nerġa immure,
Għax hemmekk għandi il-ħanini,
Ixxejjirli il-maktur.

I’ve been through this street and I’ll return again, 
Through this street again I’ll go, 
Because there is my darling, 
Waving the handkerchief. 

There is a certain manner in the way that this is written. The repeated emphasis on walking through the same street again and again seems to betray a certain sorrow. Did the lovers meet an untimely end? Did they suffer terrible consequences? Did nothing come out of their exchange of mutual love? Has their secret been buried with them in their grave?

 Il-Maktur, tal-Ħarir abjad,
U iċ-Ċurkett tal-fossa blu.

The white silk Handkerchief, 
And the ring with the blue stone.

Watch Lejla Maltija performing Il-Maktur Live on Youtube