The Tale of Karmenu’s Magical Ħobż Biż-Zejt

Chapter 1: The Curious Discovery in Valletta

Once upon a sunny day in Valletta, a quaint city bustling with tourists and pigeons alike, Karmenu, a stout man with a mustache that curled like the Mdina bastions, was strolling beside the Grand Harbour. As the seagulls squawked approval of the clear blue sky, he hankered for his mid-morning snack—his beloved ħobż biż-żejt.

Karmenu sat on a bench by the water, unpacked his wax paper bundle, and sank his teeth into the oily delicacy. Olive oil drizzled onto his shirt – a small sacrifice for the ritual that kept his world spinning. But today was destined for the unusual; the very second that succulent morsel met his taste buds, the Barakka Lift played a symphony, and Fort Saint Elmo winked at him in the distance.

Chapter 2: The Phenomenon Spreads to Mdina

Word spread faster than melted butter on hot Maltese bread: Karmenu’s snack had powers. People flocked to witness the bread-induced spectacle, causing a bit of a jam (pun intended) on the roads to Mdina. In the ancient Silent City, the locals peeked over their balconies, intrigued by the hubbub intruding their usually tranquil lives.

“Eh, uwejja, did you see the fountain? It started dancing like a figolla on Easter Sunday when that man bit his sandwich,” exclaimed Zija Bettina, who swore her cat did the cha-cha too.

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Twist in Gozo

Interest in the enchanted sandwich soared and Karmenu decided to take it on a tour, across the ferries, to Gozo. Here the twist was more than just a sprinkling of capers on his ħobż. As he bit into his snack on the Azure Window ruins, out popped a genie – not quite what you’d expect from a tuna-filled concoction.

The genie, shaped like a plump pastizz, had his own demands. “Listen Karmenu, I’ll grant you three wishes, but you’ve got to promise to limit your ħobż biż-żejt consumption. It’s given me indigestion for centuries!”

Chapter 4: The Interview That Shook Malta

“We’re here live with Karmenu, the man with the mystical Maltese sandwich. Now Karmenu, tell us, what’s your first wish?”

“On my mother’s grave, I’d like a national holiday for everyone to enjoy ħobż biż-żejt, mela. Give us a day of peace and greasy fingers!”

The interviewer, taken aback, promptly fainted. When she awakened, it had been decreed: “National Ħobż Biż-Zejt Day” echoed through every town and village, from the radios stuck in traffic on the Marsa junction to the boats bobbing in Marsaxlokk Bay.

Chapter 5: Social Media Erupts

Maltese netizens took to their keyboards, creating the hashtag #ĦobżPower – it was trending harder than the time someone suggested adding pineapple to pastizzis. Pictures of adorable nanniet posing with oil-stained smiles flooded Facebook. Tweets about cats doing the bizzilla alongside enchanted fountains went viral. But as the sun set over the picturesque coast of Sliema, the magic faded, and the genie’s parting words lingered in the air:

“Remember, Karmenu, with great power (and bread) comes great responsibility. No more wishing for endless pastizzi – we’re still recovering from that last incident.”

Epilogue: A Day to Remember

The country hummed with tales of Karmenu’s legendary day for weeks. It was not just about the bread; it was a moment when the whole island came together, unified by tradition and the love for a good story to tell.

So, next time you’re biting into a hearty ħobż biż-żejt in the heart of Valletta, spare a thought for Karmenu, the unlikely hero who proved that, sometimes, it’s the simplest of things that create the most extraordinary magic. Uwejja, what are you waiting for? Go and make your own sandwich – who knows what’ll happen this time around?