Primary Source
History post.
Maltese folklore
Ghonella
Mostly heard of name was the Ghonella although this traditional dress was also called as the Faldetta in Malta. The Ghonella is a unique dress in many ways both in style and in tradition, the reason being is that it’s part of our culture and tradition in the traditional women’s clothing and fashion. This dress was mostly found made with the cotton or silk material and mainly the colour was found in black, There were also white Ghonnielen that were dressed In the late 16th century by noble or women of a higher standard then other women in society, Ladies who wore the white Ghonella were doing this to identify or distinguish different classes in society. The Ghonella had the luxury to be worn both tight or loose mostly for summer because of the high temperatures Malta see’s at that period of time.
In varies part of Malta villages used words for the Ghonella in different ways for example in Gharugur the Ghonella was called the’ Stamina’. Mostly found in Zabbar and Zejtun women used to wear varies types of Ghonelliet which there were found Ghonelliet of a different style then the norm, These dresses were found decorated with polka dots and floral embroidery. In these parts the Ghonella was called the Culqana. The origins of this famous and unique traditional Maltese dress were never found, but it was described as a ‘western garment’, Some Maltese historians said that they believed that it evolved from the Sicilian traditional dress. According to local historian this dressed moved to Malta in 1224 originated from Sicilia. By time the meaning of women wearing the Ghonella changed, in 1798 was theoretically said that this traditional dress was worn to try to prevent from unwanted troops of Napoleon. In 1935 this traditional dress was rumoured to have developed under certain religious restrictions and believes.
Secondary source (Vassallohistory.wordpress.com) 260x426 Faldetta.
Some people also used to be controversial about this traditional dress most comments would be on how beautiful a women’s face is and this dress had the ability to take away the freedom of women showing their natural beauty, but as may all of you know most of the people at that time especially men weren’t open minded as the majority of us today, in their era or period of time to women unfortunately had less human rights then men, covering half of a women’s face by this dress was an inspiration from the arab cukture which Malta was influenced by so much mainly because of the rule over Malta between the years of 869-1127. After the World War 2 the Ghonella tradition was being lost, by the 1970’s it was rarly seen in Malta it was only seeing by old people who still carried the tradition, by the end of the 20th centuary it was disappeared and all the history after it was lost, nowadays we only can see the Ghonella in some museums across Malta and Gozo or mainly vintage postcards or photos of this luxurious and unique traditional dress that carries out such an interesting history behind it.
References:
https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/the-maltese-faldetta-l-ghonnella/
The Maltese Faldetta – Ghonella | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015. The Maltese Faldetta – Ghonella | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at: https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/the-maltese-faldetta-l-ghonnella/. [Accessed 13 April 2015]
Maltese folklore
Ghonella
Mostly heard of name was the Ghonella although this traditional dress was also called as the Faldetta in Malta. The Ghonella is a unique dress in many ways both in style and in tradition, the reason being is that it’s part of our culture and tradition in the traditional women’s clothing and fashion. This dress was mostly found made with the cotton or silk material and mainly the colour was found in black, There were also white Ghonnielen that were dressed In the late 16th century by noble or women of a higher standard then other women in society, Ladies who wore the white Ghonella were doing this to identify or distinguish different classes in society. The Ghonella had the luxury to be worn both tight or loose mostly for summer because of the high temperatures Malta see’s at that period of time.
In varies part of Malta villages used words for the Ghonella in different ways for example in Gharugur the Ghonella was called the’ Stamina’. Mostly found in Zabbar and Zejtun women used to wear varies types of Ghonelliet which there were found Ghonelliet of a different style then the norm, These dresses were found decorated with polka dots and floral embroidery. In these parts the Ghonella was called the Culqana. The origins of this famous and unique traditional Maltese dress were never found, but it was described as a ‘western garment’, Some Maltese historians said that they believed that it evolved from the Sicilian traditional dress. According to local historian this dressed moved to Malta in 1224 originated from Sicilia. By time the meaning of women wearing the Ghonella changed, in 1798 was theoretically said that this traditional dress was worn to try to prevent from unwanted troops of Napoleon. In 1935 this traditional dress was rumoured to have developed under certain religious restrictions and believes.
Secondary source (Vassallohistory.wordpress.com) 260x426 Faldetta.Some people also used to be controversial about this traditional dress most comments would be on how beautiful a women’s face is and this dress had the ability to take away the freedom of women showing their natural beauty, but as may all of you know most of the people at that time especially men weren’t open minded as the majority of us today, in their era or period of time to women unfortunately had less human rights then men, covering half of a women’s face by this dress was an inspiration from the arab cukture which Malta was influenced by so much mainly because of the rule over Malta between the years of 869-1127. After the World War 2 the Ghonella tradition was being lost, by the 1970’s it was rarly seen in Malta it was only seeing by old people who still carried the tradition, by the end of the 20th centuary it was disappeared and all the history after it was lost, nowadays we only can see the Ghonella in some museums across Malta and Gozo or mainly vintage postcards or photos of this luxurious and unique traditional dress that carries out such an interesting history behind it.
References:
https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/the-maltese-faldetta-l-ghonnella/
The Maltese Faldetta – Ghonella | Maltese History & Heritage. 2015. The Maltese Faldetta – Ghonella | Maltese History & Heritage. [ONLINE] Available at: https://vassallohistory.wordpress.com/maltese-crafts/the-maltese-faldetta-l-ghonnella/. [Accessed 13 April 2015]
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