| Date |
Holiday |
Details |
| 1st January |
New Years Day |
Many celebrate the coming of the New Year on its eve and the following day by attending parties and meeting with family and friends |
| 10th February |
St Paul Shipwreck |
The feast commemorates the shipwreck of St.Paul in Malta in 60 A.D. This event is documented in the Acts of the Apostles:27,28. The shipwreck is believed to have taken place at St Paul's Bay. |
| 19th March |
St Joseph |
The feast celebrates St Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Christ |
| 31st March |
Freedom Day |
A commemorative ceremony is held at the War Memorial at Floriana. During the afternoon, traditional regatta boat races are held in Grand Harbour on Malta. |
| March/April (date changes) |
Good Friday |
In Maltese Good Friday is known as `Il-Gimgha l-Kbira', or `the most important Friday of the year', Good Friday is a day of mourning. All places of of entertainment and offices are closed. Pageants are held during the afternoon in Valletta and most main towns and villages and in Victoria Gozo. |
| 1st May |
Labour Day |
Labour Day or Worker's day is also celebrated as the feast of St Joseph the Worker, Patron Saint of workers, St Joseph is one of the most revered saints in the Christian world. |
| 7th June |
Sette Giugno |
'Sette Giugno', is a National Holiday and a Public Holiday which commemorates 1919 riots in Valletta in which four Maltese men were shot and killed by British troops. On this day the National Assembly was founded, and a formal request for self-government was made. |
| 29th June |
St Peter & St Paul (L'Imnarja) |
The feast of Saints Peter and Paul are an important event in the Maltese calendar. It is the largest traditional summer festivity and held as a country harvest and folk festival as well as a religious holiday. The festival is named L’Imnarja, a corruption of the Italian ‘Luminara’ and means festival of light. It is named after the bonfires that used to light up the festivities in the town of Rabat. |
| 15th August |
The Assumption (Santa Marija) |
The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, is also known as Santa Marija, and is a public holiday. |
| 8th September |
Our Lady of Victories |
This day is a special public holiday because it commemorates three events. It is the religious feast celebrating the birth of the Holy Virgin, Maria Bambina; it is the day on which the Great Siege of 1565 ended; and it also the day on which the Italian navy capitulated to the British at the beginning of the end of the Second World War. |
| 21st September |
Independence Day |
This public holiday commemorates the attainment of independence from Britain in 1964. |
| 8th December |
Immaculate Conception |
In the Roman Catholic Calendar this day is celebrated as a Holy Day of obligation, commemorating the Immaculate Conception of Mary. |
| 13th December |
Republic Day |
Malta became a Republic in 1974 by resolution of the House of Representatives. On this day the first Maltese President became Head of State. |
| 25th December |
Christmas Day |
Main day of celebration during this festive season. |