Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

What people wore

Women wore gold on feast days

On feast days, women wore their Sunday best and adorned themselves with all their gold, which served as both a sign of respectability and an investment.

Getting around

Night travel by mule-cart

For long-distance village travel, such as from Luqa to Mellieha, people used mule-carts and often started their journey at two in the morning to arrive by dawn.

Music

Growth of local band clubs

Band clubs became central to Maltese social life, performing in streets and at parish festivals, which grew into major events involving processions and elaborate outdoor entertainment. By the late 19th century, these clubs were well-established, with brass bands playing to large crowds.

Daily life

Water Access Before 1890

Before 1890, most people relied on public water pumps and private wells, as domestic piped water was not introduced until that year.