Luzzu Truths

Strolling along Malta's coast, you'll be mesmerised by the rain bow of traditional fis hing boats ambling on the water-that and all the eyes ogling at you from the ir bows. Katre Tatrik takes a closer look at th e hidden meaning behind the luzzu's colou rs. he Maltese luzzu dates coastal villages. He wrote: 'to visit a Msi da or St Julian 's, w hilst an ochre back to the time of the Maltese fishing village is like entering yellow one would identify the boat ancient Phoenicians. a huge, open-air art exhibition.' as hailing from t he Marsaxlokk and T For generations, Summing up Morris' work, Mars ascala area . When a mustacc Maltese fishermen have Aquilina says that 'even in a small was painted black, it denoted painted them in a kaleidoscope of country, you can see the difference mourning for a death in t he family. bright colours, turning them into a between one locality and another. In ad dition to colours, decorations national icon. But is there rhyme or But at the same time, there is the al so send a message. In more than half reason to the hues they choose? individual stamp of the fisherman, of luzzus, signature eyes are painted Lifelong fishermen, brothers of that particular person.' on the bow or the stern- symbols Charles (62) and Carmelo (70) from Morris' main findings show of protection for fishermen out at Marsaxlokk, paint their luzzus twice a sea. Where the eyes are not seen, year in bold blues, reds, and yellows. other symbols suc h as a rising sun, a It's no easy task, requiring thorough To visit a Maltese Maltese cross, fish, shooting stars, or cleaning and six layers of paint. fishing village is li ons are painted on. The ga ngway, Despite their dedication, Charles and usually varnished brown, can be Carmelo, like many others, are largely like entering a heavily decorated or engraved with unaware of the hidden meanings the symbols of the sea and the island: colours on their boats carry. 'They're huge, open-air shells, mermaids, birds, flow ers. all the same,' Carmelo says. 'It's just for art exhibition Religious insignia are common too, beauty.' Charles adds that 'these boats with doves, olivebranches, and have always looked the way they look.' lambs often making an appearance. But in 2016, Prof. Anthony Aquilina that some traditional rules come Political or religious influences from the University of Malta embarked into play when choosing the also come into play where a luzzu's on a project that would uncover more. colour palette for a luzzu. name is concerned. During the 'Contrary to what you have been told, Whilst reddish brown or maroon time we spent in Marsaxlokk, we there is a lot of meaning in the way was typically painted on the lower saw San Mikiel (Sa int Michael the our traditional boats are painted,' he half of the boat to mark the waterline, Archangel, patron saint of Isla), explains. Aquilina edited and published the locality of a boat's owner could John F. Kennedy, and Ben Hur. The Boats of Malta - The Art of the be identified by the colour of its Even if Charles and Carmelo Fisherman , written by world-famous mustacc. The mustacc is the band couldn't tell us what the luzzu's anthropologist Des mond Morris. above the lower half of the boat, colours mean, their dedication to Morris resided in Malta for six years shaped like a moustache, which gives tradition is undeniable. Before we in the 1970s, visiting each of the the feature its name. A red mustacc left, they said they were fearful that fishing villages on the islands. During would indicate that the boat came this part of Malta's heritage may fade his stay, he sketched some 400 of the from St Paul's Bay, for example. A away as featureless carbon-fibre boats 700 traditional boats anchored in the lemon yellow indicated a boat from wade in. I hope they're wrong. [j 49 .

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