Many countries have doorside saints. But Malta has a doorside saint on every other house.
The Maltese are devoted Roman Catholics, most of them.
Their houses are often recognised by the saint they have chosen to protect them:
Santa Rita house, St. John`s house, Mary`s house.
Many of these doorside saints are mass production pieces of pottery made in China or Poland.
Some of them are special.
On a trip to Malta and Gozo in 2004 I decided to do this series.
Terrific series! As Catholics, our "house Saint" is inside, as we don't do this in the US. If we did, people would think we are superstitious rather thank devout. We get enough odd comments re our garden statue of St. Mary! I have heard of the tradition also re the Portugese! Well done and thank you!
MIKE PACE
01-Jun-2004 11:35
THE PICTURES OF THE DOORS WITH IMAGES OF SAINTS ON THEM WAS VERY NICE. THIS SEEM TO BE A CATHOLIC TRADITION. HERE ON THE STATES THE PORTUGESE COMMUNITY HAS THEM ON THEIR DOORS. IT'S A VERY NICE CUSTOM. IT MAKES THE HOUSE LOOK WARM AND WELCOMING. I'M SORRY YOUR FATHER DOSN'T SEEM TO LIKE US CATHOLICS. HE PROBABLY RECEIVED POOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAITH.