Public holidays in malta

The Maltese ArchipelagoThe Maltese Archipelago

GENERAL INFORMATION……GENERAL INFORMATION……

Malta , Gozo and Comino are 3 islands situated Malta , Gozo and Comino are 3 islands situated in the middle of the mediterranean sea , exactly in the middle of the mediterranean sea , exactly under Sicily . under Sicily .

Malta is 17.5miles (28.2km) long and 8.3 miles Malta is 17.5miles (28.2km) long and 8.3 miles (13.4km) wide .(13.4km) wide .

Gozo is 5 miles (8km) distant from Malta .It is Gozo is 5 miles (8km) distant from Malta .It is 9miles(14.5km) long and 4.5miles(7.2km) wide.9miles(14.5km) long and 4.5miles(7.2km) wide.

Comino is 1mile squared (2.5km squared )Comino is 1mile squared (2.5km squared )

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The population is around 400,000 . The population is around 400,000 .

We have a pretty hot climate , unlike other We have a pretty hot climate , unlike other countries , snow is never seen in Malta countries , snow is never seen in Malta . The . The highest temperature ever recorded in Malta is highest temperature ever recorded in Malta is +43.8c , whilst the lowest is 1.5 c .+43.8c , whilst the lowest is 1.5 c .

We are Catholics and was introduced in Malta We are Catholics and was introduced in Malta by Saint Paul when he was shipwrecked on by Saint Paul when he was shipwrecked on these islands around 60 after Christ . these islands around 60 after Christ .

We have 2 main languages : Maltese & English .We have 2 main languages : Maltese & English .

THE FLAGTHE FLAG

The cross on the The cross on the white part of the flag white part of the flag is the George Cross . is the George Cross . It was given to Malta It was given to Malta by King George VI for by King George VI for the “heroism showed the “heroism showed by the Maltese by the Maltese population” when it population” when it resisted German and resisted German and Italian attacks in Italian attacks in World War II. World War II.

Some HistorySome HistoryMan first arrived in Malta around Man first arrived in Malta around 5200BC probably from nearby 5200BC probably from nearby Sicily.Sicily.

Prior to 1964 when we obtained Prior to 1964 when we obtained our independence Malta was our independence Malta was invaded and ruled by various invaded and ruled by various empires , including : Arabs , empires , including : Arabs , Romans , Normans , French , Romans , Normans , French , British and others . Each of these British and others . Each of these civilisations left temples and other civilisations left temples and other monuments which can be viewed monuments which can be viewed even today as the one on the left . even today as the one on the left .

Interesting to know that the oldest Interesting to know that the oldest free standing building in the World free standing building in the World was found in Gozo and it is still was found in Gozo and it is still available to be viewed to this day .available to be viewed to this day .

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MALTAPUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MALTA

11STST JANUARY : NEW YEAR’S DAY . JANUARY : NEW YEAR’S DAY .

1010THTH FEBRUARY : FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK FEBRUARY : FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK ..

1919THTH MARCH : ST JOSEPH’S DAY . MARCH : ST JOSEPH’S DAY .

FRIDAY BEFORE THE EASTER – GOOD FRIDAY . FRIDAY BEFORE THE EASTER – GOOD FRIDAY .

11STST MAY : LABOUR DAY . MAY : LABOUR DAY .

29 JUNE : FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL . 29 JUNE : FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL .

1515THTH AUGUST : ASSUMPTION DAY . AUGUST : ASSUMPTION DAY .

8 TH DECEMBER : IMMACULATE CONCEPTION . 8 TH DECEMBER : IMMACULATE CONCEPTION .

2525THTH DECEMBER : CHRISMAS DAY . DECEMBER : CHRISMAS DAY .

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN MALTANATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN MALTA

3131STST MAY : FREEDOM DAY . MAY : FREEDOM DAY .

77THTH JUNE : SETTE GIUGNO . JUNE : SETTE GIUGNO .

88THTH SEPTEMBER : OUR LADY OF VICTORIES . SEPTEMBER : OUR LADY OF VICTORIES .

2121STST SEPTEMBER : INDEPENDENCE DAY . SEPTEMBER : INDEPENDENCE DAY .

1313THTH DECEMBER : REPUBLIC DAY . DECEMBER : REPUBLIC DAY .

OTHER HOLIDAYS IN MALTAOTHER HOLIDAYS IN MALTA

11STST & 2 & 2ndnd NOVEMBER : ALL NOVEMBER : ALL SAINTS & dead DAY .SAINTS & dead DAY .2121stst November: International November: International Children’s Day. Children’s Day. CARNIVAL (Beginning of CARNIVAL (Beginning of February) . February) . 88thth March- Women’s Day. March- Women’s Day.88thth May- Mother’s Day. May- Mother’s Day.2121stst June- Father’s Day. June- Father’s Day.

INTERESTING FACTS ON INTERESTING FACTS ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYSPUBLIC HOLIDAYS

NEW YEAR’S DAYNEW YEAR’S DAY

WE CELEBRATE WE CELEBRATE THE COMING OF THE COMING OF THE NEW YEAR .THE NEW YEAR .

FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECKFEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK1010THTH FEBRUARY FEBRUARY

MALTA WAS UNDER ROMAN MALTA WAS UNDER ROMAN CONTROL BETWEEN 218BC CONTROL BETWEEN 218BC AND 395 CE .AND 395 CE .

THE SHIPWRECK OF ST PAUL THE SHIPWRECK OF ST PAUL TOOK PLACE AROUND 60AD . TOOK PLACE AROUND 60AD .

ST PAUL BROUGHT ST PAUL BROUGHT CATHOLICISM TO THE CATHOLICISM TO THE MALTESE ISLANDS AND MALTESE ISLANDS AND FOUNDED THE CHURCH OF FOUNDED THE CHURCH OF MALTA WHICH IS STILL OUR MALTA WHICH IS STILL OUR OFFICIAL RELIGION TO THIS OFFICIAL RELIGION TO THIS DATE . DATE .

FEAST OF ST JOSEPHFEAST OF ST JOSEPH1919THTH MARCH MARCH

WE CELEBRATE THE WE CELEBRATE THE PATRON SAINT OF ALL PATRON SAINT OF ALL WORKERS ON THIS DAY . WORKERS ON THIS DAY .

IN MALTA THERE ARE A LOT IN MALTA THERE ARE A LOT OF CHURCHES DEDICATED OF CHURCHES DEDICATED TO THIS SAINT . TO THIS SAINT .

MY PARISH CHURCH IN MY PARISH CHURCH IN IMSIDA , WHERE I LIVE IS IMSIDA , WHERE I LIVE IS DEDICATED TO THIS SAINT . DEDICATED TO THIS SAINT .

GOOD FRIDAYGOOD FRIDAYFRIDAY BEFORE EASTER FRIDAY BEFORE EASTER

WE COMMEMORATE WE COMMEMORATE THE PASSION OF THE PASSION OF JESUS CHRIST . JESUS CHRIST .

THE WEEKEND ENDS THE WEEKEND ENDS ON EASTER SUNDAY ON EASTER SUNDAY WHEN WE CELEBRATE WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE RESSURRECTION THE RESSURRECTION OF OUR SAVIOUR OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST . JESUS CHRIST .

LABOUR DAYLABOUR DAY1ST MAY1ST MAY

IT’S THE FEAST OF ALL THOSE WHO EARN IT’S THE FEAST OF ALL THOSE WHO EARN A LIVING WORKING HARD , LIKE US A LIVING WORKING HARD , LIKE US !! !!

FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAULFEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL2929THTH JUNE JUNE

WE CELEBRATE THE WE CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF THESE TWO FEAST OF THESE TWO GREAT SAINTS ON GREAT SAINTS ON THIS DAY . THIS DAY .

ASSUMPTION DAYASSUMPTION DAY1515THTH AUGUST AUGUST

THE FEAST COMMEMORATING MARY’S THE FEAST COMMEMORATING MARY’S PASSAGE INTO HEAVENLY GLORY WITH PASSAGE INTO HEAVENLY GLORY WITH HER BODY AND SOUL UNITED .HER BODY AND SOUL UNITED .

DURING THE 2DURING THE 2NDND WORLD WAR DUE TO WORLD WAR DUE TO THE FACT THAT MALTA WAS UNDER THE FACT THAT MALTA WAS UNDER BRITISH CONTROL AND DUE TO ITS BRITISH CONTROL AND DUE TO ITS STRATEGIC POSITION IN THE MIDDLE STRATEGIC POSITION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA WE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA WE WERE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY WERE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY GERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY . SUPPLIES GERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY . SUPPLIES TO MALTA WERE CUT COMPLETELY TO MALTA WERE CUT COMPLETELY OUT AND MALTA WAS STARVING TO OUT AND MALTA WAS STARVING TO DEATH . BUT ON THIS DAY IN 1942 A DEATH . BUT ON THIS DAY IN 1942 A SINGLE CONVOY FULL OF SUPPLIES SINGLE CONVOY FULL OF SUPPLIES MANAGED MIRACILY TO ENTER MANAGED MIRACILY TO ENTER MALTESE PORTS THUS SAVING MALTA MALTESE PORTS THUS SAVING MALTA FROM STARVATION AND CAPITULATING FROM STARVATION AND CAPITULATING TO NAZI GERMANY . THE MALTESE TO NAZI GERMANY . THE MALTESE WERE SURE THAT THIS MIRACLE WAS WERE SURE THAT THIS MIRACLE WAS DUE TO MARY’S INTERVENTION . DUE TO MARY’S INTERVENTION .

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 88THTH DECEMBER DECEMBER

COMMEMORATING COMMEMORATING THE CONCEPTION THE CONCEPTION OF MARY , THE OF MARY , THE MOTHER OF JESUS MOTHER OF JESUS WITHOUT ANY WITHOUT ANY STAIN OF ORIGINAL STAIN OF ORIGINAL SIN.SIN.

CHRISTMAS DAY CHRISTMAS DAY 2525THTH DECEMBER DECEMBER

LIKE IN MOST COUNTRIES LIKE IN MOST COUNTRIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST ON THIS OF JESUS CHRIST ON THIS DAY . DAY .

INTERESTING FACTS ON INTERESTING FACTS ON NATIONAL HOLIDAYSNATIONAL HOLIDAYS

FREEDOM DAY FREEDOM DAY 31ST MARCH 31ST MARCH

ON THIS DAY IN 1979 ALL ON THIS DAY IN 1979 ALL BRITISH TROOPS AND THE BRITISH TROOPS AND THE ROYAL NAVY WITHDREW ROYAL NAVY WITHDREW FROM MALTA . THERE FROM MALTA . THERE WERE NO MORE COLONIAL WERE NO MORE COLONIAL PRESENCE IN MALTA PRESENCE IN MALTA AFTER THIS DATE .AFTER THIS DATE .

SETTE GIUGNO DAY SETTE GIUGNO DAY 0707THTH JUNE JUNE

THIS IS A SAD PICTURE IN MALTESE THIS IS A SAD PICTURE IN MALTESE HISTORY WHICH TOOK PLACE WHEN HISTORY WHICH TOOK PLACE WHEN WE WERE UNDER THE BRITISH WE WERE UNDER THE BRITISH COLONY . COLONY . IT COMMEMORATES EVENTS WHICH IT COMMEMORATES EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY IN OCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY IN 1919 WHEN , AFTER BRITISH 1919 WHEN , AFTER BRITISH AUTHORITIES RAISED THE PRICE OF AUTHORITIES RAISED THE PRICE OF BREAD , RIOTS ENSUED . DURING THE BREAD , RIOTS ENSUED . DURING THE RIOTS BRITISH TROOPS FIRED INTO RIOTS BRITISH TROOPS FIRED INTO THE CROWDS AND KILLED 4 MALTESE THE CROWDS AND KILLED 4 MALTESE . . THESE FOUR TODAY ARE THESE FOUR TODAY ARE REMEMBERED BY A MONUMENT TO REMEMBERED BY A MONUMENT TO THEIR HOUNOUR .THEIR HOUNOUR .

OUR LADY OF VICTORIES(1)OUR LADY OF VICTORIES(1)IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )

8TH SEPTEMBER 8TH SEPTEMBER IN 1565 WHEN MALTA WAS UNDER THE IN 1565 WHEN MALTA WAS UNDER THE KNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN , WE WERE KNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN , WE WERE ATTACKED BY THE TURKS AND THEIR ATTACKED BY THE TURKS AND THEIR OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THEIR QUEST TO TAKE OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THEIR QUEST TO TAKE CONTROL OF EUROPE IN A SIEGE WHICH CONTROL OF EUROPE IN A SIEGE WHICH LASTED 5 MONTHS . THOUGH THE MALTESE LASTED 5 MONTHS . THOUGH THE MALTESE AND THE KNIGHTS WERE HUGELY AND THE KNIGHTS WERE HUGELY OUTNUMBERED ( 1:8 ) THEY MANAGED TO OUTNUMBERED ( 1:8 ) THEY MANAGED TO DEFEND THE LAND AND DEFEATED THE DEFEND THE LAND AND DEFEATED THE TURKS . THIS DAY COMMEMORATES THE DAY TURKS . THIS DAY COMMEMORATES THE DAY WHEN THE TURKS FINALLY WITHDREW FROM WHEN THE TURKS FINALLY WITHDREW FROM MALTA .MALTA .IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BETTER DEFEND IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BETTER DEFEND ITSELF IN CASE OF FUTURE SIMILAR ATTACKS ITSELF IN CASE OF FUTURE SIMILAR ATTACKS THE GRAND MASTER OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE GRAND MASTER OF THE KNIGHTS OF THAT TIME JEAN DE LA VALLETTE THAT TIME JEAN DE LA VALLETTE COMMISSIONED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COMMISSIONED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW CITY WHICH WAS LATER NAMED AFTER NEW CITY WHICH WAS LATER NAMED AFTER HIM , VALLETTA , WHICH IS THE CAPITAL CITY HIM , VALLETTA , WHICH IS THE CAPITAL CITY OF MALTA TODAY . SADLY LA VALLETTE DIED OF MALTA TODAY . SADLY LA VALLETTE DIED IN 1568 BEFORE THE CITY WAS READY AND IN 1568 BEFORE THE CITY WAS READY AND NEVER SAW IT . NEVER SAW IT .

OUR LADY OF VICTORIES (2)OUR LADY OF VICTORIES (2)IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )

8TH SEPTEMBER 8TH SEPTEMBER THIS DAY ALSO COMMEMORATES THIS DAY ALSO COMMEMORATES ANOTHER INTERESTING PART OF OUR ANOTHER INTERESTING PART OF OUR HISTORY . WE ARE NOW IN 1940 AND MALTA HISTORY . WE ARE NOW IN 1940 AND MALTA IS UNDER BRITISH CONTROL . HITLER AND IS UNDER BRITISH CONTROL . HITLER AND NAZI GERMANY WANTED TO INVADE MALTA NAZI GERMANY WANTED TO INVADE MALTA IN ORDER TO HAVE CLOSER ACCESS FOR IN ORDER TO HAVE CLOSER ACCESS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN AFRICA . ON HIS CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN AFRICA . ON THE 11 JUNE 1940 THERE WAS THE FIRST THE 11 JUNE 1940 THERE WAS THE FIRST AIR ATTACK BY GERMAN PLANES . LATER AIR ATTACK BY GERMAN PLANES . LATER WHEN ITALY JOINED GERMANY MALTA WAS WHEN ITALY JOINED GERMANY MALTA WAS ATTACKED BY BOTH GERMAN AND ITALIAN ATTACKED BY BOTH GERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY FOR A TOTAL OF 3000 RAIDS TIL THE NAVY FOR A TOTAL OF 3000 RAIDS TIL THE END OF THE WAR .END OF THE WAR .

ON THIS DAY IN 1943 ITALY SURRENDERED ON THIS DAY IN 1943 ITALY SURRENDERED AND TURNED AGAINST GERMANY AND TURNED AGAINST GERMANY EFFECTIVELY ENDING THE WAR FOR EFFECTIVELY ENDING THE WAR FOR MALTA . TO THE MALTESE PEOPLE BOTH MALTA . TO THE MALTESE PEOPLE BOTH VICTORIES AGAINST GERMANY AND THE VICTORIES AGAINST GERMANY AND THE TURKS WERE THANKS TO LADY MARY’S TURKS WERE THANKS TO LADY MARY’S INTERVENSION AND HENCE THERE IS A BIG INTERVENSION AND HENCE THERE IS A BIG DEVOTION TOWARDS HER THROUGHOUT DEVOTION TOWARDS HER THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND AS SHE SAVED MALTA IN TWO THE ISLAND AS SHE SAVED MALTA IN TWO VERY IMPORTANT OCCASIONS VERY IMPORTANT OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY . THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY .

Independence DAY Independence DAY 2121STST SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER

ON THIS DAY IN 1964 MALTA BECAME OFFICIALLY ON THIS DAY IN 1964 MALTA BECAME OFFICIALLY AN INDEPENDENT STATE AND NO MORE A BRITISH AN INDEPENDENT STATE AND NO MORE A BRITISH COLONY .COLONY .

UNDER ITS 1964 CONSTITUTION ,MALTA RETAINED UNDER ITS 1964 CONSTITUTION ,MALTA RETAINED QUEEN ELIZABETH II AS HEAD OF STATE , QUEEN ELIZABETH II AS HEAD OF STATE , HOWEVER IT WAS GOVERNED BY A MALTESE HOWEVER IT WAS GOVERNED BY A MALTESE GOVERNMENT .GOVERNMENT .

REPUBLIC DAY REPUBLIC DAY 1313THTH DECEMBER DECEMBER

ON THIS DAY IN 1974 MALTA ON THIS DAY IN 1974 MALTA BECAME OFFICIALLY A BECAME OFFICIALLY A REPUBLIC WHICH MEANT REPUBLIC WHICH MEANT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITS HISTORY MALTA HAD IN ITS HISTORY MALTA HAD A MALTESE HEAD OF STATE A MALTESE HEAD OF STATE . (The one in the middle). (The one in the middle)

Malta picturesMalta pictures

The End The End