MUNXAR, another of the smaller villages of Gozo, lies to the south of the island between Xlendi valley and the village of Ta' Sannat. Its name is derived from a distinguished feature of the area. Munxar is Maltese for "bucksaw", a saw set in an adjustable H-shaped frame, used for sawing firewood on a buck. The imagery is suggested by the promontory that runs from behind the village church sawing into two the surrounding area creating the Wied tal-Ghancija, "Ghancija valley", on the Munxar side and Wied ix-Xlendi, "Xlendi Valley", on the Fontana side. This place-name is not restricted to Gozo: a similar headland in the east of Malta is also known as Munxar. The name is first recorded as ll Monxar in a notarial deed of July 2, 1584. |
