Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542182
Nature Notebook FoEM Plant-Based themed month in February - Open Call for Restaurants This February, Friends of the Earth Malta is launching a plant-based themed month, and we're inviting restaurants across Malta to collabo- rate with us. FoEM has partnered with Eat for Impact, a global initiative that brings together cities, local organisations, restaurants, businesses and citizens to make sustainable, planet-friendly dining a reality. As part of their campaign, the NGO is calling on restaurants to join by creating two new, creative, climate-friendly specials for the month. Green idea of the week 1001 Find out more: https://foemalta.org/blog/open-call-restaurants/ Don't miss this Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member The Christmas Pageant Date: 21 December Location: San Lawrenz Parish Church, Triq il-Wileg, San Lawrenz A Pageant narrating the story of Salvation, from the Creation of the World to the Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Almost half of the population of San Lawrenz takes part in this production, with characters in biblical costumes retelling the greatest story ever told, involving families in their very homes. The opening will feature a spectacular 3D Mapping show projected on the Church façade – an experience never seen before. In the second part, the Pageant takes on a new dimension as actors blend into the audience, making them part of the performance itself.. ZfinMalta's Winter Dance Date: 21 December Location: Valletta Campus Theatre, Merchants Street, Valletta, Malta This winter, ZfinMalta proudly welcomes Of Curious Nature for a double-bill uniting two of Europe's most innovative contemporary dance companies. Two international dance companies. Eighteen exceptional dancers. One unforgettable winter evening. Shine this Christmas at Playmobil FunPark Date: 23 December Location: Playmobil FunPark Malta, Birzebbuga, Malta An afternoon with Santa & Elves! Enjoy games, a festive parade, raffles, and a special meal with Santa. Kids are invited to wear Christmas costumes and bring festive accessories to add extra cheer. Il-Kuncertun tal-Milied 2025 Date: 21, 23 December Location: St Agatha's Auditorium, Rabat, Malta The Christmas Concert will be returning in December, and this year, The Travellers will be taking you somewhere different and unusual. Titled "The Last Rehearsal", the 2025 edition will go beyond the limelight and offer a more intimate, behind-the-scenes experience of the band's final rehearsal before their big show. Expect candid interviews, personal reflections, and never- before-seen moments woven directly into the show, which will be packed with fan-favorite songs that have defined the band's decade. MYO Christmas Concert Date: 30 December Location: St Agatha's Auditorium, Rabat, Malta The MYO marks the festive season with its annual concert led by Michael Laus. The selection from Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite evokes the holiday spirit, while Dvorák's Slavonic Dance No. 8 blends folk tunes with refined elegance. Camilleri's Notturno and Waltz showcase his Mediterranean warmth and lyricism. The programme concludes with some of Johann Strauss Jr.'s most celebrated classics. Luna Park Wonderland Date: 4 January Location: Smart City, Kalkara, Malta Get ready for the South's first-ever Luna Park! This December, Shoreline Mall brings the excitement and sparkle of a true funfair to SmartCity - with dazzling lights, thrilling rides, and festive energy for all ages. Beethoven & Mahler Date: 11 January Location: Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, Malta Austrian soprano Elisabeth Breuer joins the MPO led by Michael Laus, opening the programme with fiery emotion and vocal intensity in Beethoven's Ah! Perfido. Mahler's Symphony No. 4 takes listeners on a luminous journey of transcendence. With graceful melodies and delicate orchestration, it evokes a childlike view of the world, culminating in a soprano solo that imagines a serene, heavenly life.. Made With Love Artisan Fair Date: 31 January Location: Villa Rundle Gardens, Triq ir- Repubblika, Victoria Celebrate with us at the Made with Love Artisan Fair! Explore a delightful array of handcrafted treasures and unique, heartfelt goods perfect for gifting—or keeping just for yourself. Wander through an atmosphere brimming with creativity, charm, and inspiration, where every booth tells a story. From hand-poured candles and bespoke jewelry to artisanal home décor, local artwork, and one-of-a-kind fashion pieces, there's something special for everyone. Enjoy live music, interactive demonstrations, and tasty treats from local vendors as you shop, mingle, and support passionate makers from our community. Bring your family, friends, and loved ones for a day filled with laughter, discovery, and memories to cherish. 1001. Pine bolete RAIN, persistent warm weather and humidity are good news for mushrooms, and I seem to be seeing more of them this autumn than, say, last year. These umbrella-like beauties are actually the visible fruiting bodies of an underground fungus that's composed mostly of a threadlike mass. Mushrooms generally love shady places with plenty of leaf litter, such as woodland. Although woods are a habitat we lack, a good 300 or so species of mushrooms have none- theless been recorded in Malta (not counting the microscopic fun- gi). Many fungi grow in association with particular trees and one such species is the pine bolete or boletus (M. faqqiegħ taż-żnuber), so called because it grows in pine leaf litter. Go for a walk at Foresta 2000, look around the base of the young pines and you may spot these large mushrooms with a glistening saucer-sized red-ochre cap – a home fit for a smurf king! Awguri from all at BirdLife! 5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 DECEMBER 2025 ALMANAC Victor Falzon, Desirée Falzon (photo)