Yes, come to think of it, Maltese is an amazing language.
The word "Happy" is not really used in a greeting.
The Maltese equivalent of Happy Christmas is "Milied it-tajjeb" - literally translated would be Good Christmas. You also wish someone a Good New Year, a Good Easter and a Good Festa.
Best wishes - Xewqat sbieh, is used for an anniversary or birthday.
If you are wondering how Xewqat sbieh is pronounced, there is a song of the same name on this link (number 42) with lyrics if you fancy singing along.
http://www.marz-kreations.com/Nostalgia/MalteseSongs/MalteseSongs.html

Does anyone know the words of the song 'Maltese Calypso'? I hear it sung in certain bars

Thanks for the memories Charliegirl
Years ago at the Gillieru there used to be two guys with guitars going from table to table asking for requests from diners. If you didn't have a particular song, you would usually get the Maltese Calypso

(Chorus)
Malta, we love Malta!
These are the things we'd alter.
Malta, we love Malta,
These are the things we'd alter.

Now you've not been in Malta for very long,
Before you notice some things seem wrong
Before we go on with the show,
This is a very old Maltese calypso: (chorus)

Now the Maltese people are very nice,
You hire a car, you better think twice.
Now the Maltese people are very nice,
You hire a car, you better think twice.
I hired one the first day that I'm here
With no brakes, no clutch, and no gears.
I went around to get my money back,
But the man says, don't worry 'cause they're all like that. (chorus)

Now I took a taxi, had a terrible fright.
He drove on the left, he drove on the right.
I took a taxi, had a terrible fright.
He drove on the left, in the middle of the right.
I asked the driver, can this be true?
Does everyone in Malta drive like you?
He smiled at me, said we have to mate.
Everyone in Malta drives in the shade. (chorus)

Now the Maltese girls - very fine,
With dark skin and eyes that shine.
The Maltese girls are very fine,
With dark skin and big behinds.
I asked the girl to come out with me on a date,
I picked her up at about half past eight,
Her mother said, have a real good time,
But she'd better be home at half past nine! (chorus)

Now the first thing that made me very cross.
Is everybody drives like Sterling Moss.
Now the first thing that made me very cross,
Is everybody drives like Sterling Moss.
The buses are a bit of a joke,
They're old and green, they make a lot of smoke.
The smallest book in the world or so we're told,
That's the Maltese highway code. (chorus)

But when you leave Malta, you'll be very sad -
Things over here aren't really that bad.
When you leave Malta, you'll be very sad -
Things over here aren't really that bad.
We've got the sunshine, we've got the sea,
And not long ago we got the colour T.V.
And when you come back, you never know -
Someone might have filled up all the holes in the roads

Malta, we love Malta,
These are the things we'd alter.
Malta, we love Malta,
That's nothing that we'd alter!

brilliant, thanks for that we had a good laugh

I heard the Maltese Calypso sung way back in 1983 and the buses were green in those days. I wonder if anyone knows how old this song is?

Trev

You can here a sample of the Maltese calypso here....>

http://www.fb3.uni-siegen.de/anglistik/malta/market/music.html

Cheers Fallan,

Much appreciated,

Trev

hi there Every body sing along now......................
I remember the first time I hired a jeep, the first one the steering was very dodgy so I changed it. When driving in Gozo going from Xarha, (spelling please Mark!) taking a short cut through to Victoria down a hill that resembled the first drop of the 'Big One' at Blackpool I found that the brakes didn't work very well!!! Oh how I laugh about it now

Fantastic, not heard this for ages, reminds me of very boozy nights in St Julians must go back soon, in fact will be back in February now where was I "Malta Malta these are the things we would alter" etc etc etc etc .

Xaghra Charliegirl , and thats a great hill, with a cemetery at the top !

It should be at the bottom if you have a hire car/jeep!!

Hi Ingliza, I have sent my friend the text for her anniversry and she replied 'prosit' (well done) she was really impressed and wanted to know how I learned maltese in such a short time It will be our little secret eh! Thanks for that.