The last għonnella
If you were to ask any Gozitan about the last għonnella, his or her mind would turn to no other than Ċensa Vella whose għonnella would have been seen meandering the streets of Victoria until early 1991.
The faldetta as the għonnella is known in English, was a full-length gown, arching over the head to lend an air of modesty. The irony was that although Ċensa sought no attention, she inadvertently attracted followers of all ages.
Hundreds of negatives must have found themselves in dark rooms on an international level, as her solid-black hooded garment would bloom out of a solution.
Ċensa was as delicate as the silk she wore, her gentle ways as appealing as its pleated folds.
Ċensa’s father, Vincenzo Vella, had served with the Royal Artillery in World War 1 and was buried in Quebec. Marie-Roz Cremona was Ċensa’s mother whose own mother was from Switzerland; known as “il-Mamma-Mi”, she had served as midwife to families of the British forces in Chambray.
[attach id=887346 size="medium" align="right" type="image"]Ċensa with relative Yvonne Borg née Tyler.[/attach]
To mention that the family were devout Catholics would be an understatement.
Ċensa’s uncle, Mgr Luigi Vella, is currently...