To some, Friday the 13th is a superstitious day of bad luck and misfortune. To others, 13 is a lucky number. In Malta this year, Friday, December 13th is a National Holiday, and a day when citizens will commemorate Malta becoming a republic 50 years ago, and the election of Malta’s first-ever president, Sir Anthony Mamo, a respected lawyer and author.
On 13 December 1974, I proudly marched in Valletta with many thousands to St George’s Square to witness the President’s inaugural address, and 50 years later, we will again celebrate this historic day, now known as Republic Day, with poise, pomp and gratitude.
Join in Malta’s 50th Anniversary Celebration 13-15 December 2024
The Chairman of the National Celebrations Foundation, Liam Gauci, said in a recent article, “As a nation, our country over the years has worked so that despite our small size we are always at the top of international dialogue. As a country, the journey to get here was not easy. The fiftieth anniversary of the Republic should remind us what this holiday means. A nation in the middle of the Mediterranean with a great history, whose own people lead its future through the mechanism of the Republic which turns 50 this year”.
50th Anniversary Celebration
An audio-visual show whose theme is L-Istorja, Aħna” (This is Our Story), will give a personal and human element to the country’s history tracing its humble beginnings through major milestones, to the moment it finally stood on its own two feet, allowing all to feel as if they are a part of the past, present and the future of Malta, and reminding citizen that the nation’s history is also part of their own story.
The show will take place on 13, 14, and 15 December in St George’s Square, and the front of the President’s Palace will serve as the modern canvas on which the country’s history is portrayed.
Republic Day also features a grand fireworks display over the Grand Harbour and a wreath-laying ceremony by state officials at the Republic Day monument in Marsa.
Closing the festivities is a yearly ‘Trooping the Colour’ military parade in St George’s Square, Valletta.
Free tickets for the show are available at www.showshappening.com
Malta’s annual Fairyland is a popular and family-friendly Christmas event
December Events in Malta
December in Malta is also a time to celebrate Christmas. The month is full of fun-for-all events and solemn religious celebrations. Here are just a few to get you into the holiday spirit in Malat.
Fairyland Santa’s City
Pjazza Tritoni in Valletta will be transformed into Santa’s City this Christmas, from the 6th of December to 5th of January 2025, and brings back the the beloved ‘Rudolph’s Wheel’ (with the best bird’s eye view of Valletta), as well as an ice-skating rink, Christmas Market, fountain displays, and lots of food, drink, music, sing-alongs and other holiday fun. Santa Claus and his elves will be making an appearance too.
Bethlehem in Ghajnsielem
In a small village on Malta’s neighbouring island of Gozo, Ghajnsielem is well-known for its life-sized nativity scene spread across more than 20,000 square metres (five acres). Annually, the live nativity performances draw thousands to witness more than 150 volunteer performers acting out scenes, including shepherds tending their flocks and the nativity birth scene. Performances begin on the 16th December and go through the 30th.
Malta’s Christmas Cribs are an annual tradition ( Photo from MaltaInfoGuide.com)
Christmas Cribs
Be sure to visit Matla and Gozo’s Christmas Cribs (nativity scenes), some homemade and others lifesize, which have become a beloved symbol of the season in Malta and found in very village, street and town. Over the years, the popularity of Maltese-made cribs has grown around Europe and the world, displays making other way to Italy (including The Vatican), Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Villa Rundle Illuminated Gardens
Enjoy a full day at Villa Rundle’s Illuminated Gardens in Gozo this festive season, where the historic gardens are transformed into a breathtaking wonderland of shimmering lights and a fairytale scene that delights visitors of all ages. Stroll through twinkling pathways to immerse in a captivating world of holiday enchantment now through 6 January 2025.
Plan your next trip to Malta at www.VisitMalta.com
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Author bio: Albert Fenech
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