History of Malta

Malta has been inhabited since around 5200 BC. A significant prehistoric culture, that predates the Pyramids of Giza by a millennium, is believed to have existed on the islands. Phoenicians colonized the islands around 1000 BC, using them as an outpost from which they expanded sea explorations and trade in the Mediterranean.

The islands later came under the control of Carthage (400 BC) and then of Rome (218 BC). The islands prospered under Roman rule, during which time they were considered a Municipium and a Foederata Civitas. Many Roman antiquities still exist, testifying to the close link between the Maltese inhabitants and the people of Rome. In AD 60, the islands were visited by Saint Paul, who is said to have been shipwrecked on the shores of the aptly-named "Saint Paul's Bay".

After a period of Byzantine rule (4th to 9th century) and a probable sack by the Vandals, the islands were conquered by the Arabs in AD 870. The Arabs, who generally tolerated the population's Christianity, introduced the cultivation of citrus fruits and cotton, irrigation systems, and most notably, the Arabic language, which the majority of the population adopted as their mother tongue. Its influence can be seen most prominently in the modern Maltese language, which has also been heavily influenced by Romance languages and is written in a variety of the Latin alphabet.

The period of Arab rule lasted until 1091, when the islands were taken by the Sicilian Normans. Subsequent rulers included the Angevine, the Hohenstaufen, and the Aragonese (1283). The Maltese nobility was established during this period; some of it dating back to 1400. About 32 noble titles remain in use today, of which the oldest is "Barons of Djar il Bniet and Buqana".

In 1530, the islands were given by Spain to the Order of Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem in perpetual lease. (The Kingdom of Aragon had owned the islands as part of their Mediterranean empire for some time.) These knights, a military religious order now known as the "Knights of Malta", had been driven out of Rhodes by the Ottoman Empire in 1522. They withstood a full-blown siege by the Ottoman Turks in 1565. The Turks, at that time, were considered to be the greatest non-European military power. After this they decided to increase the fortifications, particularly in the inner-harbour area, where the new city of Valletta, named after Jean Parisot de la Valette, was built.

Their reign ended when Malta was captured by Napoleon en route to his expedition of Egypt during the French Revolutionary Wars in 1798. As a ruse, Napoleon asked for safe harbour to resupply his ships, and then turned his guns against his hosts once safely inside Valetta. Grand Master Ferdinand von Hompesch zu Bolheim capitulated, and Napoleon stayed in Malta for a few days, during which he systematically looted the movable assets of the Order, and established an administration controlled by his nominees. He then sailed for Egypt, leaving a substantial garrison in Malta. The occupying French forces were unpopular, however, due particularly to their negative attitude towards religion. The Maltese rebelled against them, and the French were forced behind the fortifications. Great Britain, along with the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, sent munitions and aid to the rebels. Britain also sent her navy, which instigated a blockade of the islands. The isolated French forces, under General Claude-Henri Belgrand de Vaubois, surrendered in 1800, and the island became a British protectorate, being presented by several Maltese leaders to Sir Alexander Ball.

In 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris, Malta officially became a part of the British Empire, and was used as a shipping way-station and fleet headquarters. Malta's proximity to the Suez Canal proved to be its main asset during these years, and it was considered to be a most important stop on the way to India. In the 1930s, due to Malta's cultural and geographical proximity to Italy, the British Mediterranean Fleet was moved to Alexandria. Malta played an important role during World War II, owing to its vicinity to Axis shipping lanes. The bravery of the Maltese people in their long struggle against enemy attack led to them being awarded the George Cross on 15 April 1942, now included in the corner of the Flag of Malta.

After the war, and after a short period of political instability due to the Malta Labour Party's unsuccessful attempt at 'Integration with Britain', Malta was granted independence on September 21, 1964 (Independence Day). Under its 1964 constitution, Malta initially retained Queen Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta, with a Governor-General exercising executive authority on her behalf. On December 13, 1974 (Republic Day), however, it became a republic within the Commonwealth, with the President as head of state. A defence agreement signed soon after independence (and re-negotiated in 1972) expired on March 31, 1979 (Freedom Day) when the British military forces were withdrawn. Malta joined the European Union on May 1, 2004. It will be joining the Eurozone in 2008.

Culture of Malta

The culture of Malta reflects the various influences of different countries, namely Italy and the United Kingdom, which ruled Malta until 1964. The Maltese are overwhelmingly Roman Catholic and the influence of the Church is strong, with divorce, but especially euthanasia and abortion still being banned by law.

Maltese folklore, traditions and legends still live in the minds of the older-generations, and these are slowly being studied and categorized, like any other European tradition.

The use of Italian has declined as a result of British influence and official anti-Italian policy, with English becoming the official language of education, along with Maltese in 1934. However, television from Italy is widely watched in Malta, having been available before the country introduced its own service in the early 1960s. Consequently, Italian television has brought about a comeback for Italian in Malta. Since Independence, closer links with the Italians (known in Maltese as taljani) have developed, especially due to tourism. Local festivals, similar to those in southern Italy, are commonplace, celebrating weddings, christenings and, most prominently, saints' days.

On saints' days, or festas, the ceremonies start with religious prayers and are followed by, usually, three days of band processions, fireworks, and stalls. On the final day a statue of the religious patron is taken around the local streets with the faithful following in respectful prayer.

British influences remain strong. Many Maltese avidly follow English football matches, even though the Italian Football League is also followed. Malta also has its own national soccer team. Traffic still drives on the left, as in the UK, and many visitors from the UK are surprised to see British-made cars from the 1960s and 1970s still driving on the road. The old Maltese buses, which in reality were ex-British Armed forces carriers, were pressed into public transport as long ago as the early 1950s. Nowadays, though, these have been replaced by the proper thing. The buses used to be colour coded, according to the their routes. Now they are all dark yellow, with a band of orange.

Roman Catholicism is the official state religion of Malta. However, full liberty of conscience and freedom of worship is guaranteed. An estimated 90% of the population are Roman Catholic, though only 60% practise the religion. Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English, but Italian is also widely understood.

Music
While Maltese music today is largely western, traditional Maltese music includes what is known as "għana" (pronounced as aana). This consists of background folk guitar music, while two or three persons take it in turns to argue a point in a melodic voice. The aim of the lyrics, which are improvized, are to create a friendly yet challenging atmosphere, and takes a number of years of practice to be able to combine the required artistic qualities with the ability to debate effectively. A very interesting fact is that the improvized tune is normally sung in an Arabic Mode with quarter tones while the accompaniment is in Tonality, i.e. in a Western European Mode.

Other Maltese music is folk music with emphasis on guitar and tambourine; instrumental music is called daqqaqa. Wind band music, with strong Spanish and Italian influences, are also popular at each annual village or town festival (festa).

Holidays in Malta
Malta is the country with the most holidays in the European Union. Since 2005, any holidays falling on Sundays do not add an extra day to the workers' leave pool.

National holidays
March 31 - Freedom Day (Jum il-Ħelsien)
June 7 - Sette Giugno
September 8 - Victory Day (Jum il-Vitorja)
September 21 - Independence Day (Jum l-Indipendenza)
December 13 - Republic Day (Jum ir-Repubblika)

Public holidays
January 1 - New Year's Day (L-Ewwel tas-Sena)
February 10 - Saint Paul's Shipwreck (San Pawl Nawfragu)
March 19 - Feast of Saint Joseph (San Ġużepp)
Friday before Easter - Good Friday (Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira)
May 1 - Worker's Day (Jum il-Ħaddiem)
June 29 - Feast of Saint Peter & Saint Paul, patron saints (L-Imnarja)
August 15 - Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (Santa Marija)
December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Il-Kunċizzjoni)
December 25 - Christmas Day (Il-Milied)

Other holidays
All Saints' Day (November 1 - Jum il-Qaddisin Kollha) and All Souls Day (November 2 - Jum l-Irwieh) are not officially recognized, but kindergartens, primary and secondary schools assign them as holidays. The last two days of Carnival (Monday and Tuesday) are also school holidays. Santa Marija is especially popular with residents of the main island for family trips to Gozo, where the feast is celebrated in the capital, Rabat. The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is celebrated in seven parishes. Good Friday is characterized by processions across the country, starting at around 3 p.m. and lasting for about four hours, where believers (sometimes wearing a hood) offer tribute to the Passion of Christ by carrying statue representations (vari) of the Stations of the Cross (which are much heavier than the statues used in festas), and by carrying themselves the cross (with or without wheels) through part or all of the procession.

Remembrance Day is observed by the wail of sirens during the traditional two minutes of silence at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month observed by all Commonwealth countries.

Most religious holidays are celebrated as traditional festas.