Maltese Humour - But Seriously

Introduction

Some three years ago, I published a short light-hearted article, ‘Do Maltese people laugh?’ The self-explanatory title and the short write-up was my way of urging readers to reflect on their own perceptions of the qualities of Maltese humour. Following the release of that article, some opined that there was no such thing as Maltese humour. They unreservedly maintained that we Maltese do not generally look on the brighter side of life. Some even averred that the Maltese are nought but a pack of grumblers and do not maintain a sense of humour at all. In view of such a negative opinion, I felt that the statement had to be put to the test. I sought to quantify and qualify Maltese humour by undertaking some research of my own.

Three years and thousands of words later, these are my conclusions. They highlight what in one way or other makes Maltese people laugh. In the book, I demonstrate a wide range of humorous qualities that the Maltese are known to have embraced over the centuries and those which they are currently willing to appreciate. I started by researching historical documentation as well as checking on secondary sources, references that pointed to any shred of humour that was manifested locally in the past. For contemporary Maltese humour, my fellow countrymen’s behaviour was an open book. To concur with my studies, I also held many discussions, more than I care to remember, with persons from all walks of life to seek their own perspective on the subject.

I trust that this work will be of interest to the Maltese reader who wishes to discover more about the psyche of his compatriots; hopefully the book should also be an eye-opener to foreigners who take a keen interest in everything about the island they visit or call home.

Martin Morana

September 8, 2017