OUR JOURNEY

Explore the History and Uncover the Spectacular Journey that Shaped the Malta Pyrotechnic Association

History of Malta Pyrotechnic Association

In 1980, Charles Briffa, John Galea, and Joseph Galea took up the intiative to set up a committee by the name of Għaqda Pirotekniċi Maltin (Maltese Pyrotechnic Association) to represent the licensees of Maltese fireworks factories. A 14-year-old had died tragically on 14 July 1980 in a fireworks factory’s explosion in Żebbuġ and parliament had asked for an urgent report. Stricter regulations were to be issued and the committee had asked the ministry of interior to be consulted on the matter. It did so with legal assistance of Dr Franco Depasquale and after a number of months, on 9 January 1981, new regulations were imposed on the building of fireworks factories.

More than a decade later, in 1992, a national association, Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija, was set up in a general meeting held at Santa Venera. Despite the introduction of a number of new measures, the rate of accidents at fireworks factories had continued to increase to alarming levels. The rising concern among the public and fireworks makers demanded an in-depth analysis of the situation and a plausible solution.

The association’s founding members, Vincent Galea, Joe Theuma, Karmnu Spiteri, Salvu Muscat, Alfred Magri, Benny Dingli, and Ronald Zammit, were elected to serve in its executive meeting for a two-year period. A statute was drawn up. Its objectives are:

- to safeguard pyrotechnics in all its aspects: craftsmanship, art, and applied science;

- to represent at national level the interests of all Maltese and Gozitan fireworks factories and licensed fireworks makers and pyrotechnicians; - to promote the standards of health and safety during manufacture, storage, transport, and discharge of fireworks;

- to encourage procedures which increase the knowledge of pyrotechnics and educate all four categories of licensed personnel;

- to safeguard the identity of our fireworks heritage, its craftsmanship, and traditional fireworks displays.

The Explosives Ordinance and its Subsidiary Legislation were no longer relevant to the proceedings at the fireworks factories and needed updating. A two-way consultation process was started; took some years to conclude. Occasionally difference of opinion or new fireworks incidents halted progress. Insurance policies for the displays were agreed to. In 1998, Subsidiary Legislation 33.03 was published. Among other things the ideal precursors which could be used were identified, as well as the incompatible mixtures; the application process of required permits and a standard schedule of feasts let-offs was drawn; safety firing distances were set up; and the type and size of fireworks legally permitted were recognized. It was a milestone achievement.

Throughout the years, the association’s representation of the sector was never an easy task. Dr Michael Falzon was legal consultant. In general, the media fuelled certain controversies and debates raged on. The recurrence of fireworks accidents was back-breaking. Factories’ licences were not always renewed. For a few years, a moratorium was imposed on the building of new processing rooms and new fireworks factories. Threats to abolish particular types of traditional fireworks were often aired. Urbanization and environmental issues did not alleviate matters. The association dealt with these various issues rationally, not losing site of its statutory objectives.

In 2010, the association was also at the forefront, along with other national feast organizations, in the consultation process held by the ecclesiastical authorities on the management of feasts. In the following year, government issued a first-ever public report by an investigating commission on fireworks factories’ accidents. Its recommendations were widely discussed. A revamp in the processing of pyrotechnic licences had just been published and apprenticeship had been officially recognized. As a consequence both the Explosives Ordinance and Subsidiary Legislation 33.03 were tweeted during 2014 and 2019 with new technical and procedural details.

Over these years, the Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija has built a prestigious local reputation and enjoys a non-governmental organization status. Challenges will never cease to exist; they will hang on. The Għaqda Piroteknika Maltija will retain its resolve, to uphold to its objectives, without losing sight of ameliorating health and safety standards.

References: J. Theuma, Diskors għall-okkażjoni ta’ għeluq il-ħamsin sena mill-mewt ta’ tliet Naxxarin f’aċċident tan-nar (The fiftieth anniversary from the tragic death of three fireworks makers at Naxxar), unpublished

Copy right: This extract is taken from the book, Fireworks The Vibrant Celebration of the Maltese Islands ( pages 90, 91). It is written by Bernard Cauchi and edited by Godfrey Farrugia.

The Origin of Maltese Fireworks

History is made of all the life histories of communities that make up a nation. It is a mosaic of smaller histories, which are created and experienced on a communal level between villages and within them. It is in these communal spaces where the foundation of a nation are made. It is the layers of history which have defined the art of Maltese fireworks. Many are the visitors who marvel how this particular niche is so deep-rooted in every town and village in the Maltese islands.

This activity was encouraged by the military division of the Hospitalier Order of the Knights of St John who ruled over Malta between 1530 and 1798. This Order was a religious lay organization of noblemen coming from eight different langues (England, Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Aragon, Auvergne, and Provence) which celebrated their festivities with pomp and extravagance.

The origins of firework displays in Europe started in neighbouring Italy during the Renaissance between the fourteenth and the sixteenth century. This was a period marked by a revival of classical learning and culture. Music, art, literature, and science thrived. The use of fireworks as a means of entertainment was a novelty. These fireworks displays evolved from weaponry to a form of art to entertain the elite and also to signify power and wealth to impress the common folk. Such festive events were organized to celebrate anniversaries, marriages, births, and other special occasions.

The use of fireworks in the festive commemorations of the knights intrigued the local folk. Until then, bonfires (ħġejjeġ ) and torches (fjakkoli ) were the only fire displays that embellished the locals parochial feasts. In time, small fireworks exhibits gradually gained popularity. As early as the seventeenth century, community celebrations in honour of their patron saints were being celebrated by ground and church rooftop let-offs from rudimentary mortars (maskli).

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century English and Italian fire masters left their influence on the local craftsmen. As a result, these early fireworks makers developed their own skills and for generations the traditional craft of making fireworks was proudly passed on from one to another. Fuelled by pique (pika), a sense of community belonging, and veneration, local craftsmen gradually became fire-masters in their own right surpassing some of the skills of fellow foreign fireworks makers, to create Malta’s renowned and unique fireworks displays.

Copy Right: This extract is taken from the book, Fireworks The Vibrant Celebration of the Maltese Islands (page 7) , authored by Godfrey Farrugia.