Ftira
{{short description|Maltese bread}}
{{Infobox food
| name = Maltese Ftira
| image = File:Ftira with Tuna in Marsaxlokk 02.jpg
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| country = Malta
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| type = Bread
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| variations = Gozitan open ftira
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Ftira is a ring-shaped, leavened, Maltese bread, usually eaten with fillings such as sardines, tuna, potato, fresh tomato, onion, capers and olives.{{cite news|title=A true taste of Malta|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/why-choose-malta/where-and-what-to-eat-in-malta/|work=The Telegraph|date=10 March 2017}} Regional variations include Gozo ftira, which is served more like a pizza than a sandwich. Gozitan ftira is served open with thinly sliced potato over the crust, or folded over like a calzone.{{cite book |last=Rix |first=Juliet |date=2015 |title=Malta and Gozo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WmKKCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA68 |location=England |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |page=68|isbn=9781784770259 }}
Intangible cultural heritage
Following the Maltese Parliament's unanimous approval to ratify UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage,{{cite web |url=https://parlament.mt/en//12th-leg/motions-12th/motion-no-450 |title=Motion to authorise the ratification of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. |author= |date=March 7, 2017 |publisher=Parliament of Malta |access-date=January 17, 2019 |quote=}} in 2018 Malta's Culture Directorate launched a petition to include the Maltese Ftira as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) list.{{cite web |url=https://www.newsbook.com.mt/artikli/2018/08/13/maltese-ftira-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list-hopeful/?lang=en |title=Maltese Ftira – UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List hopeful |author= |date=August 13, 2018 |publisher=Newsbook |access-date=January 17, 2019 |quote= |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029060232/https://newsbook.com.mt/en/maltese-ftira-unesco-intangible-cultural-heritage-list-hopeful/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-08-19/local-news/PD-praises-initiative-to-list-ghana-and-ftira-for-UNESCO-recognition-questions-festa-s-exclusion-6736195097 |title=PD praises initiative to list ghana and ftira for UNESCO recognition; questions exclusion of festa |author= |date=August 19, 2018 |publisher=Malta Independent |access-date=January 17, 2019 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://lovinmalta.com/food/love-the-maltese-ftira-you-can-now-help-it-join-the-hall-of-flame-of-global-human-heritage |title=Love The Maltese Ftira? You Can Now Help It Join The Hall Of Fame Of Global Human Heritage |author= |date=October 2018 |publisher=www.change.org |access-date=January 17, 2019 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20190111/community/is-the-ftira-a-marker-of-identity.698982 |title=Is the ftira a marker of identity? |author= |date=January 11, 2019 |publisher=Times of Malta |access-date=January 17, 2019 |quote=}} According to a local expert, 'The Making of the Ftira Maltija', as it is listed in the Directorate's [https://www.ichmalta.org/nationalinventory National Inventory], dates back to the Sixteenth Century.{{cite web |url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/what-makes-the-maltese-ftira-different-from-other-bread/ |title=What makes the Maltese ftira different from other bread? |author= |date=January 17, 2019 |publisher=TVM |access-date=February 16, 2021 |quote=}} Following a strong public call, the Government of Malta announced that it would be submitting the Maltese ftira to UNESCO for consideration as intangible cultural heritage.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Press%20Releases/Pages/2019/March/26/pr190621en.aspx |title=Press Release by The Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government: Il-'ftira' to be the first element submitted to be part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage list |author= |date=March 26, 2019 |publisher=TVM |access-date=March 28, 2019 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/maltese-ftira-to-be-submitted-to-unesco-for-consideration-as-intangible-cultural-heritage/ |title=Maltese 'ftira' to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration as intangible cultural heritage |author= |date=March 26, 2019 |publisher=TVM |access-date=March 28, 2019 |quote=}} In 2020, the Maltese ftira was added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.{{cite web |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/il-ftira-culinary-art-and-culture-of-flattened-sourdough-bread-in-malta-01580 |title=Il-Ftira, culinary art and culture of flattened sourdough bread in Malta |author= |date= |publisher=UNESCO |access-date=February 16, 2021 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltese-ftira-added-to-unescos-intangible-cultural-heritage-list.839294 |title=Maltese ftira added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List |author= |date=December 16, 2020 |publisher=Times of Malta |access-date=December 16, 2020 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://lovinmalta.com/food/a-taste-of-history-beloved-maltese-ftira-officially-makes-it-to-unescos-intangible-cultural-heritage-list/ |title=A Taste Of History! Beloved Maltese Ftira Officially Makes It To UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List |author= |date=December 16, 2020 |publisher=Lovin Malta |access-date=December 16, 2020 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/international-recognition-for-our-traditional-ftira.849884 |title=International recognition for our traditional ftira |author= |date=February 7, 2021 |publisher=Times of Malta |access-date=February 16, 2021 |quote=}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bread}}
{{Portal bar|Malta|Food|European Union|}}
{{Malta-stub}}