Kaw kaw
Encyclopedia
In Maltese mythology
the Kaw Kaw (also gaw-gaw) is a 'slimy greyish bogey man' who strolls the streets at night. He is able to smell a person's guilt and is capable of entering their homes by extending and contracting his snail-like body through any crack or fissure. Once inside he is said to grin, with a toothless gaping mouth, at his hapless victim.
Another version of the creature exists in Wardija
, where the Kaw Kaw is described as a massive giant who could traverse the Maltese islands in a few steps. The Kaw Kaw was believed to favour hunting for guilty individuals between Christmas and the first week of February, as shown by a Maltese
proverb: Il-Gaw-Gaw joħroġ lejlet il-Milied f'nofs il-lejl; jekk isib mustaċċih miblula, jgħid: Ix-xita għaddiet; jekk isibhom nexfin, igħid: Ix-xitwa gadha ġejja, "The Gaw-Gaw comes out on Christmas Eve at midnight and if his whiskers are damp, he says, 'Winter has passed', if he finds them dry, he says, 'Winter is still to come'".
The Kaw Kaw's female counterpart is called l-Imlejka, and often appeared as an old woman. Flowers were placed on windowsills during the New Year, to placate her as she passed by.
All variants of Il-Kaw Kaw are identified with bawbaw, another monster who attacked Maltese children. The name Kaw Kaw (and similarly gaw-gaw) is possibly onomatopoeic and refers to the barking of a dog.
Culture of Malta
The culture of Malta is the culture of the Maltese islanders and reflects various societies that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries, including neighbouring Mediterranean cultures, and the cultures of the nations that ruled Malta for long periods of time prior...
the Kaw Kaw (also gaw-gaw) is a 'slimy greyish bogey man' who strolls the streets at night. He is able to smell a person's guilt and is capable of entering their homes by extending and contracting his snail-like body through any crack or fissure. Once inside he is said to grin, with a toothless gaping mouth, at his hapless victim.
Another version of the creature exists in Wardija
St. Paul's Bay
Saint Paul's Bay is a town in Malta, situated in the north east of the island of Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city Valletta.Its name refers to the shipwreck of Saint Paul, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was shipwrecked on the isles,...
, where the Kaw Kaw is described as a massive giant who could traverse the Maltese islands in a few steps. The Kaw Kaw was believed to favour hunting for guilty individuals between Christmas and the first week of February, as shown by a Maltese
Maltese language
Maltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
proverb: Il-Gaw-Gaw joħroġ lejlet il-Milied f'nofs il-lejl; jekk isib mustaċċih miblula, jgħid: Ix-xita għaddiet; jekk isibhom nexfin, igħid: Ix-xitwa gadha ġejja, "The Gaw-Gaw comes out on Christmas Eve at midnight and if his whiskers are damp, he says, 'Winter has passed', if he finds them dry, he says, 'Winter is still to come'".
The Kaw Kaw's female counterpart is called l-Imlejka, and often appeared as an old woman. Flowers were placed on windowsills during the New Year, to placate her as she passed by.
All variants of Il-Kaw Kaw are identified with bawbaw, another monster who attacked Maltese children. The name Kaw Kaw (and similarly gaw-gaw) is possibly onomatopoeic and refers to the barking of a dog.
See also
- Culture of MaltaCulture of MaltaThe culture of Malta is the culture of the Maltese islanders and reflects various societies that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries, including neighbouring Mediterranean cultures, and the cultures of the nations that ruled Malta for long periods of time prior...
- Ċikka l-Mewt
- Il-Belliegħa
- Waħxu
- L-Imħalla