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Freedom Day (Malta)
Freedom Day ( mt, Jum il-Ħelsien) is a Maltese national holiday celebrated annually on 31 March. This is the anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops and the Royal Navy from Malta in 1979. On taking power in 1971, the Labour Government indicated it wanted to re-negotiate the lease agreement with the United Kingdom. Following protracted and sometimes tense talks, a new agreement was signed whereby the lease was extended till the end of March 1979 at a vastly increased rent. On 31 March 1979 the last British Forces left Malta. For the first time in a millennium, Malta was no longer a military base of a foreign power and it became independent ''de facto'' as well as ''de jure''. The main events of the activities commemorating this date take place at the Freedom Day Monument at Birgu (Vittoriosa) (designed by Anton Agius) and at the War Memorial in Floriana. In the afternoon the Grand Harbour hosts a competitive regatta. The regatta often attracts thousands of spectators an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies south of Sicily (Italy), east of Tunisia, and north of Libya. The official languages are Maltese and English, and 66% of the current Maltese population is at least conversational in the Italian language. Malta has been inhabited since approximately 5900 BC. Its location in the centre of the Mediterranean has historically given it great strategic importance as a naval base, with a succession of powers having contested and ruled the islands, including the Phoenicians and Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese, Knights of St. John, French, and British, amongst others. With a population of about 516,000 over an area of , Malta is the world's tenth-smallest country in area and fourth most densely populated sovereign cou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. The modern Royal Navy traces its origins to the early 16th century; the oldest of the UK's armed services, it is consequently known as the Senior Service. From the middle decades of the 17th century, and through the 18th century, the Royal Navy vied with the Dutch Navy and later with the French Navy for maritime supremacy. From the mid 18th century, it was the world's most powerful navy until the Second World War. The Royal Navy played a key part in establishing and defending the British Empire, and four Imperial fortress colonies and a string of imperial bases and coaling stations secured the Royal Navy's ability to assert naval superiority globally. Owing to this historical prominence, it is common, even among non-Britons, to ref ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Birgu
Birgu ( mt, Il-Birgu , it, Vittoriosa), also known by its title Città Vittoriosa ("''Victorious City''"), is an old fortified city on the south side of the Grand Harbour in the South Eastern Region of Malta. The city occupies a promontory of land with Fort Saint Angelo at its head and the city of Cospicua at its base. Birgu is ideally situated for safe anchorage, and over time it has developed a very long history with maritime, mercantile and military activities. Birgu is a very old locality with its origins reaching back to medieval times. Prior to the establishment of Valletta as capital and main city of Malta, military powers that wanted to rule the Maltese islands would need to obtain control of Birgu due to its significant position in the Grand Harbour. In fact, it served as the base of the Order of Saint John and ''de facto'' capital city of Malta from 1530 to 1571. Birgu is well known for its vital role in the Great Siege of Malta of 1565. In the early 20th century, Bi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Anton Agius
Anton Agius (1933-2008) was a Maltese sculptor, best known for creating a large number of monuments around Malta. He was dubbed "the national sculptor" by former Maltese president Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. Early life Agius was born in Rabat on 1 December 1933, to parents Ġużeppi and Stella (née Galea). His first artistic interest was in music, however he didn't focus on this area after concerns from his mother. Education Agius first attended state school in Rabat. His first instruction in art was under sculptor Samuel Bugeja, Aguis' cousin, who tutored him in drawing. Agius was then an apprentice under sculptor Guzeppi Galea during his teens. Agius continued his education at the Malta Society of Arts, Manufacturers, and Commerce between 1950 and 1953 where he studied under Ignazio Cefai. He then spent 4 years at the School of Arts, where he was tutored by Emvin Cremona, Vincent Apap, and Ġorġ Borg under who he studied clay modeling. In 1957, Agius was awarded a government ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cospicua
Cospicua ( mt, Bormla ), also known by its titles Città Cospicua or Civitas Cottonera, is a double-fortified harbour city in the South Eastern Region of Malta. Along with Birgu and Senglea, it is one of the Three Cities, located within the Grand Harbour to the east of the capital city Valletta. With a population of 5,395 as of March 2014, it is the most dense city of the Three Cities. Etymology The Maltese name "Bormla" or ''Burmula'' derives from ''Bir Mula'' that means '' hewell of the Lord''. History Cospicua has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Its maritime facilities started during ancient times around the Phoenician era c. 600 BC. Prior to the 18th century it was known as Bormla, a name which is still in use. Its fortification walls, constructed to protect the town and its neighbours Birgu and Isla, were built by the Order of Saint John. Construction began in 1638 but was not completed for another 70 years. In 1722, Grand Master Marc'Antonio Zondadari declared Bormla ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Senglea
Senglea ( mt, L-Isla ), also known by its title Città Invicta (or Civitas Invicta), is a fortified city in the South Eastern Region of Malta. It is one of the Three Cities in the Grand Harbour area, the other two being Cospicua and Vittoriosa, and has a population of approximately 2,720 people. The city's title Città Invicta was given because it managed to resist the Ottoman invasion at the Great Siege of Malta in 1565. The name Senglea comes from the Grand Master who built it Claude de la Sengle and gave the city a part of his name. While Senglea is the 52nd most populated locality on the island, due to its incredibly small land area, it is the 2nd most densely populated locality after Sliema. History During the time of the Knights of St. John, Senglea was also used as a hunting area, and was known as ''L'Isola di San Giuliano''. In 1311 St. Julian's church or chapel was founded in Isola. This was the first building to be constructed on what later became Senglea. On 8 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Victory Day (Malta)
Victory Day (or ''Otto settembre'') is a public holiday celebrated in Malta on 8 September and recalls the end of three historical sieges made on the Maltese archipelago, namely: the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Empire ending in 1565; the Siege of Valletta by the French Blockade ending in 1800; and, the Siege of Malta during the Second World War by the Axis forces ending in 1943. This day also coincides with the commemoration of the birth of the Virgin Mary, better known as the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated in the villages of Senglea, Naxxar and Mellieha in Malta, and Xagħra in Gozo. It is locally known as ''il-Vitorja'' (the Victory) and ''il-Bambina'' (the Baby). The traditional ''regatta'' featuring boat races in the Grand Harbour is held on Victory Day. Events related to 8 September On 7 September 1565, the Sicilian fleet Gran Soccorso, reached the Maltese shores to provide assistance to the Maltese, therefore setting back the Turkish invasion. The next d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Freedom Day (other)
Freedom Day may refer to any of the following days: National and international * National Religious Freedom Day on 16 January in the United States, to commemorate the adoption of Thomas Jefferson's landmark Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786 * Freedom Day (Ukraine) on 22 January in Ukraine, anniversary of the signing of the Act Zluky by the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian People's Republic in 1919 * World Freedom Day on 23 January in Taiwan and South Korea to mark the return of ex-communist war prisoners of the Korean War * National Freedom Day on 1 February in the United States, to honor the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution * Freedom Day (Belarus) on 25 March in Belarus, anniversary of the establishment of the Belarusian People's Republic in 1918 * Freedom Day (Malta) on 31 March, anniversary of the withdrawal of British troops from Malta, 1979 * Freed ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
History Of Malta
Malta has a long history and was first inhabited in around 5900 BC. The first inhabitants were farmers, and their agricultural methods degraded the soil until the islands became uninhabitable. The islands were repopulated around 3850 BC by a civilization which at its peak built the Megalithic Temples, which today are among the oldest surviving buildings in the world. Their civilization collapsed in around 2350 BC, but the islands were repopulated by Bronze Age warriors soon afterwards. Malta's prehistory ends in around 700 BC, when the islands were colonized by the Phoenicians. They ruled the islands until they fell in 218 BC to the Roman Republic. The island was acquired by the Eastern Romans or Byzantines in the 6th century AD, who were expelled by Aghlabids following a siege in 870 AD. Malta may have been sparsely populated for a few centuries until being repopulated by Arabs in the 11th century. The islands were invaded by the Norman ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Holidays In Malta
Malta is the country with the most holidays in the European Union. Since 2005, any holidays falling on Saturdays or Sundays do not add an extra day to the workers' leave pool. National holidays * 31 March: Freedom Day ('Jum il-Ħelsien') * 7 June: Sette Giugno * 8 September: Victory Day ('Jum il-Vitorja') * 21 September: Independence Day ('Jum l-Indipendenza') * 13 December: Republic Day ('Jum ir-Repubblika') Public holidays * 1 January: New Year's Day ('L-Ewwel tas-Sena') * 10 February: Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Malta ('Nawfraġju ta' San Pawl') - Saint Paul is the patron saint of Malta * 19 March: Feast of Saint Joseph ('San Ġużepp') * Friday before Easter: Good Friday ('Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira') * 1 May: Worker's Day ('Jum il-Ħaddiem') * 29 June: Feast of Saint Peter; Saint Paul, patron saints ('L-Imnarja') * 15 August: Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady ('Santa Marija') * 8 December: Feast of the Immaculate Conception ('Il-Kunċizzjoni') * 25 December: Christmas ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Public Holidays In Malta
Malta is the country with the most holidays in the European Union. Since 2005, any holidays falling on Saturdays or Sundays do not add an extra day to the workers' leave pool. National holidays * 31 March: Freedom Day ('Jum il-Ħelsien') * 7 June: Sette Giugno * 8 September: Victory Day ('Jum il-Vitorja') * 21 September: Independence Day ('Jum l-Indipendenza') * 13 December: Republic Day ('Jum ir-Repubblika') Public holidays * 1 January: New Year's Day ('L-Ewwel tas-Sena') * 10 February: Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Malta ('Nawfraġju ta' San Pawl') - Saint Paul is the patron saint of Malta * 19 March: Feast of Saint Joseph ('San Ġużepp') * Friday before Easter: Good Friday ('Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira') * 1 May: Worker's Day ('Jum il-Ħaddiem') * 29 June: Feast of Saint Peter; Saint Paul, patron saints ('L-Imnarja') * 15 August: Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady ('Santa Marija') * 8 December: Feast of the Immaculate Conception ('Il-Kunċizzjoni') * 25 December: Christma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
