Maltese Religious Holidays 3
Within the European Union (which is comprised of nearly 30 states), Malta is known as the location with the most holidays. From national celebrations to public holidays, this article will offer a glimpse at some of the holidays in Malta , many of which are centered on religious celebrations, including the Feast of Saint Joseph in March and the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady in August. In this article, you will learn more about holidays that take place in the months from September to December.
September
The Maltese look at September as the month of Victory, the Nativity of Our Lady, and Our Lady of Graces. There are also a couple of national holidays that the people celebrate. For starters, on September 8, Victory Day means many different things. The locals, which call this day il-Vitorja (‘the Victory’) and il-Bambina (‘Baby Mary’), celebrate the victory of the Great Siege by the Knights of St. John (which took place against the Turks in 1565). The people also pay homage to the day that Italy surrendered during World War II in 1943, and turned against its former German ally. The day also marks the rebellion against the French troops in Malta that ended in 1800.
Independence Day is a national holiday celebrated on September 21 in Malta, which came in 1964. With a constitution drawn up in that year, the country saw Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta. On December 13 in 1974, Malta became a republic and this specific day is now known as Republic Day. The country was within the Commonwealth and shifted to have a President as their head of state.
October
The Maltese view October as the Month of the Rosary and the country enjoys a variety of processions that take place in different villages to commemorate Our Lady of Rosary (also known as Il-Madonna tar-Rużarju). The days that the processions take place on vary according to their specific location.
November
In Malta, November is known as the month of fallen leaves and of souls. Religious holidays observed throughout the year include All Souls Day, St. Martin of Tours, St. Cecilia, and St. Catherine of Alexandria. On the Sunday after November 25, Christ the King is celebrated in Malta.
December
The Maltese looked at December as Conception month and a time to enjoy a Christmas celebration, which was observed on December 25. On this day, a traditional procession is held, where the people admire a statue of the Infant Jesus.
Public holidays celebrated throughout Malta include the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Il-KunÄ”¹izzjoni) on December 8. The month also plays host to a handful of religious observances that include paying homage to St. Lucy, St. Stephen, Innocent Saints, and St. Silvester.
Republic Day (also known as Jum ir-Repubblika) is a national holiday celebrated on December 13 in Malta. The day marks the December 13, 1974 event, which saw the revision of the Maltese constitution, which made the former British colony a republic , instead of a Commonwealth Realm that it had been in a previous life. The country was now called a republic within the Commonwealth. The British Monarch was no longer called the Queen of Malta. A President was chosen as the Head of State , the first being a man named Sir Anthony Mamo. In Marsa, there is a monument that stands to commemorate Republic Day.