The document provides information about the Maltese Archipelago, which consists of the islands of Malta, Gozo, and Comino. It details the sizes and locations of the islands. It also provides facts about Malta's population, climate, languages, history under different empires, and important religious and cultural events and holidays celebrated in Malta.

1. The Maltese ArchipelagoThe Maltese Archipelago

2. GENERAL INFORMATION……GENERAL INFORMATION……
Malta , Gozo and Comino are 3 islands situatedMalta , Gozo and Comino are 3 islands situated
in the middle of the mediterranean sea , exactlyin the middle of the mediterranean sea , exactly
under Sicily .under Sicily .
Malta is 17.5miles (28.2km) long and 8.3 milesMalta is 17.5miles (28.2km) long and 8.3 miles
(13.4km) wide .(13.4km) wide .
Gozo is 5 miles (8km) distant from Malta .It isGozo is 5 miles (8km) distant from Malta .It is
9miles(14.5km) long and 4.5miles(7.2km) wide.9miles(14.5km) long and 4.5miles(7.2km) wide.
Comino is 1mile squared (2.5km squared )Comino is 1mile squared (2.5km squared )

3. …………moremore
The population is around 400,000 .The population is around 400,000 .
We have a pretty hot climate , unlike otherWe have a pretty hot climate , unlike other
countries , snow is never seen in Maltacountries , snow is never seen in Malta  . The. The
highest temperature ever recorded in Malta ishighest temperature ever recorded in Malta is
+43.8c , whilst the lowest is 1.5 c .+43.8c , whilst the lowest is 1.5 c .
We are Catholics and was introduced in MaltaWe are Catholics and was introduced in Malta
by Saint Paul when he was shipwrecked onby Saint Paul when he was shipwrecked on
these islands around 60 after Christ .these islands around 60 after Christ .
We have 2 main languages : Maltese & English .We have 2 main languages : Maltese & English .

4. THE FLAGTHE FLAG
The cross on theThe cross on the
white part of the flagwhite part of the flag
is the George Cross .is the George Cross .
It was given to MaltaIt was given to Malta
by King George VI forby King George VI for
the “heroism showedthe “heroism showed
by the Malteseby the Maltese
population” when itpopulation” when it
resisted German andresisted German and
Italian attacks inItalian attacks in
World War II.World War II.

5. Some HistorySome History
Man first arrived in MaltaMan first arrived in Malta
around 5200BC probably fromaround 5200BC probably from
nearby Sicily.nearby Sicily.
Prior to 1964 when wePrior to 1964 when we
obtained our independenceobtained our independence
Malta was invaded and ruledMalta was invaded and ruled
by various empires , including :by various empires , including :
Arabs , Romans , Normans ,Arabs , Romans , Normans ,
French , British and others .French , British and others .
Each of these civilisations leftEach of these civilisations left
temples and other monumentstemples and other monuments
which can be viewed evenwhich can be viewed even
today as the one on the left .today as the one on the left .
Interesting to know that theInteresting to know that the
oldest free standing building inoldest free standing building in
the World was found in Gozothe World was found in Gozo
and it is still available to beand it is still available to be
viewed to this day .viewed to this day .

6. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MALTAPUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN MALTA
11STST
JANUARY : NEW YEAR’S DAY .JANUARY : NEW YEAR’S DAY .
1010THTH
FEBRUARY : FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK .FEBRUARY : FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK .
1919THTH
MARCH : ST JOSEPH’S DAY .MARCH : ST JOSEPH’S DAY .
FRIDAY BEFORE THE EASTER – GOOD FRIDAY .FRIDAY BEFORE THE EASTER – GOOD FRIDAY .
11STST
MAY : LABOUR DAY .MAY : LABOUR DAY .
29 JUNE : FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL .29 JUNE : FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL .
1515THTH
AUGUST : ASSUMPTION DAY .AUGUST : ASSUMPTION DAY .
8 TH DECEMBER : IMMACULATE CONCEPTION .8 TH DECEMBER : IMMACULATE CONCEPTION .
2525THTH
DECEMBER : CHRISMAS DAY .DECEMBER : CHRISMAS DAY .

7. NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN MALTANATIONAL HOLIDAYS IN MALTA
3131STST
MAY : FREEDOM DAY .MAY : FREEDOM DAY .
77THTH
JUNE : SETTE GIUGNO .JUNE : SETTE GIUGNO .
88THTH
SEPTEMBER : OUR LADY OF VICTORIES .SEPTEMBER : OUR LADY OF VICTORIES .
2121STST
SEPTEMBER : INDEPENDENCE DAY .SEPTEMBER : INDEPENDENCE DAY .
1313THTH
DECEMBER : REPUBLIC DAY .DECEMBER : REPUBLIC DAY .

8. OTHER HOLIDAYS IN MALTAOTHER HOLIDAYS IN MALTA
11STST
& 2& 2ndnd
NOVEMBER : ALL SAINTS &NOVEMBER : ALL SAINTS &
dead DAY .dead DAY .
2121stst
November: InternationalNovember: International
Children’s Day.Children’s Day.
CARNIVAL (Beginning of February) .CARNIVAL (Beginning of February) .
88thth
March- Women’s Day.March- Women’s Day.
88thth
May- Mother’s Day.May- Mother’s Day.
2121stst
June- Father’s Day.June- Father’s Day.

9. INTERESTING FACTS ONINTERESTING FACTS ON
PUBLIC HOLIDAYSPUBLIC HOLIDAYS

10. NEW YEAR’S DAYNEW YEAR’S DAY
WE CELEBRATEWE CELEBRATE
THE COMING OFTHE COMING OF
THE NEW YEAR .THE NEW YEAR .

11. FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECKFEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK
1010THTH
FEBRUARYFEBRUARY
MALTA WAS UNDER ROMANMALTA WAS UNDER ROMAN
CONTROL BETWEEN 218BCCONTROL BETWEEN 218BC
AND 395 CE .AND 395 CE .
THE SHIPWRECK OF STTHE SHIPWRECK OF ST
PAUL TOOK PLACEPAUL TOOK PLACE
AROUND 60AD .AROUND 60AD .
ST PAUL BROUGHTST PAUL BROUGHT
CATHOLICISM TO THECATHOLICISM TO THE
MALTESE ISLANDS ANDMALTESE ISLANDS AND
FOUNDED THE CHURCH OFFOUNDED THE CHURCH OF
MALTA WHICH IS STILL OURMALTA WHICH IS STILL OUR
OFFICIAL RELIGION TO THISOFFICIAL RELIGION TO THIS
DATE .DATE .

12. FEAST OF ST JOSEPHFEAST OF ST JOSEPH
1919THTH
MARCHMARCH
WE CELEBRATE THEWE CELEBRATE THE
PATRON SAINT OF ALLPATRON SAINT OF ALL
WORKERS ON THIS DAY .WORKERS ON THIS DAY .
IN MALTA THERE ARE A LOTIN MALTA THERE ARE A LOT
OF CHURCHES DEDICATEDOF CHURCHES DEDICATED
TO THIS SAINT .TO THIS SAINT .
MY PARISH CHURCH INMY PARISH CHURCH IN
IMSIDA , WHERE I LIVE ISIMSIDA , WHERE I LIVE IS
DEDICATED TO THIS SAINT .DEDICATED TO THIS SAINT .

13. GOOD FRIDAYGOOD FRIDAY
FRIDAY BEFORE EASTERFRIDAY BEFORE EASTER
WE COMMEMORATEWE COMMEMORATE
THE PASSION OFTHE PASSION OF
JESUS CHRIST .JESUS CHRIST .
THE WEEKEND ENDSTHE WEEKEND ENDS
ON EASTER SUNDAYON EASTER SUNDAY
WHEN WE CELEBRATEWHEN WE CELEBRATE
THE RESSURRECTIONTHE RESSURRECTION
OF OUR SAVIOUROF OUR SAVIOUR
JESUS CHRIST .JESUS CHRIST .

14. LABOUR DAYLABOUR DAY
1ST MAY1ST MAY
IT’S THE FEAST OF ALL THOSE WHO EARN AIT’S THE FEAST OF ALL THOSE WHO EARN A
LIVING WORKING HARD , LIKE USLIVING WORKING HARD , LIKE US  !!!!

15. FEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAULFEAST OF ST PETER AND ST PAUL
2929THTH
JUNEJUNE
WE CELEBRATE THEWE CELEBRATE THE
FEAST OF THESE TWOFEAST OF THESE TWO
GREAT SAINTS ONGREAT SAINTS ON
THIS DAY .THIS DAY .

16. ASSUMPTION DAYASSUMPTION DAY
1515THTH
AUGUSTAUGUST
THE FEAST COMMEMORATING MARY’STHE FEAST COMMEMORATING MARY’S
PASSAGE INTO HEAVENLY GLORY WITHPASSAGE INTO HEAVENLY GLORY WITH
HER BODY AND SOUL UNITED .HER BODY AND SOUL UNITED .
DURING THE 2DURING THE 2NDND
WORLD WAR DUE TOWORLD WAR DUE TO
THE FACT THAT MALTA WAS UNDERTHE FACT THAT MALTA WAS UNDER
BRITISH CONTROL AND DUE TO ITSBRITISH CONTROL AND DUE TO ITS
STRATEGIC POSITION IN THE MIDDLESTRATEGIC POSITION IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA WEOF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA WE
WERE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BYWERE CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY
GERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY . SUPPLIESGERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY . SUPPLIES
TO MALTA WERE CUT COMPLETELYTO MALTA WERE CUT COMPLETELY
OUT AND MALTA WAS STARVING TOOUT AND MALTA WAS STARVING TO
DEATH . BUT ON THIS DAY IN 1942 ADEATH . BUT ON THIS DAY IN 1942 A
SINGLE CONVOY FULL OF SUPPLIESSINGLE CONVOY FULL OF SUPPLIES
MANAGED MIRACILY TO ENTERMANAGED MIRACILY TO ENTER
MALTESE PORTS THUS SAVING MALTAMALTESE PORTS THUS SAVING MALTA
FROM STARVATION AND CAPITULATINGFROM STARVATION AND CAPITULATING
TO NAZI GERMANY . THE MALTESETO NAZI GERMANY . THE MALTESE
WERE SURE THAT THIS MIRACLE WASWERE SURE THAT THIS MIRACLE WAS
DUE TO MARY’S INTERVENTION .DUE TO MARY’S INTERVENTION .

17. IMMACULATE CONCEPTIONIMMACULATE CONCEPTION
88THTH
DECEMBERDECEMBER
COMMEMORATINGCOMMEMORATING
THE CONCEPTIONTHE CONCEPTION
OF MARY , THEOF MARY , THE
MOTHER OF JESUSMOTHER OF JESUS
WITHOUT ANYWITHOUT ANY
STAIN OF ORIGINALSTAIN OF ORIGINAL
SIN.SIN.

18. CHRISTMAS DAYCHRISTMAS DAY
2525THTH
DECEMBERDECEMBER
LIKE IN MOST COUNTRIESLIKE IN MOST COUNTRIES
THROUGHOUT THE WORLDTHROUGHOUT THE WORLD
WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHWE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH
OF JESUS CHRIST ON THISOF JESUS CHRIST ON THIS
DAY .DAY .

19. INTERESTING FACTS ONINTERESTING FACTS ON
NATIONAL HOLIDAYSNATIONAL HOLIDAYS

20. FREEDOM DAYFREEDOM DAY
31ST MARCH31ST MARCH
ON THIS DAY IN 1979 ALLON THIS DAY IN 1979 ALL
BRITISH TROOPS AND THEBRITISH TROOPS AND THE
ROYAL NAVY WITHDREWROYAL NAVY WITHDREW
FROM MALTA . THEREFROM MALTA . THERE
WERE NO MORE COLONIALWERE NO MORE COLONIAL
PRESENCE IN MALTAPRESENCE IN MALTA
AFTER THIS DATE .AFTER THIS DATE .

21. SETTE GIUGNO DAYSETTE GIUGNO DAY
0707THTH
JUNEJUNE
THIS IS A SAD PICTURE IN MALTESETHIS IS A SAD PICTURE IN MALTESE
HISTORY WHICH TOOK PLACE WHENHISTORY WHICH TOOK PLACE WHEN
WE WERE UNDER THE BRITISHWE WERE UNDER THE BRITISH
COLONY .COLONY .
IT COMMEMORATES EVENTS WHICHIT COMMEMORATES EVENTS WHICH
OCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY INOCCURRED ON THE SAME DAY IN
1919 WHEN , AFTER BRITISH1919 WHEN , AFTER BRITISH
AUTHORITIES RAISED THE PRICE OFAUTHORITIES RAISED THE PRICE OF
BREAD , RIOTS ENSUED . DURING THEBREAD , RIOTS ENSUED . DURING THE
RIOTS BRITISH TROOPS FIRED INTORIOTS BRITISH TROOPS FIRED INTO
THE CROWDS AND KILLED 4 MALTESETHE CROWDS AND KILLED 4 MALTESE
..
THESE FOUR TODAY ARETHESE FOUR TODAY ARE
REMEMBERED BY A MONUMENT TOREMEMBERED BY A MONUMENT TO
THEIR HOUNOUR .THEIR HOUNOUR .

22. OUR LADY OF VICTORIES(1)OUR LADY OF VICTORIES(1)
IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )
8TH SEPTEMBER8TH SEPTEMBER
IN 1565 WHEN MALTA WAS UNDER THEIN 1565 WHEN MALTA WAS UNDER THE
KNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN , WE WEREKNIGHTS OF SAINT JOHN , WE WERE
ATTACKED BY THE TURKS AND THEIRATTACKED BY THE TURKS AND THEIR
OTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THEIR QUEST TO TAKEOTTOMAN EMPIRE IN THEIR QUEST TO TAKE
CONTROL OF EUROPE IN A SIEGE WHICHCONTROL OF EUROPE IN A SIEGE WHICH
LASTED 5 MONTHS . THOUGH THE MALTESELASTED 5 MONTHS . THOUGH THE MALTESE
AND THE KNIGHTS WERE HUGELYAND THE KNIGHTS WERE HUGELY
OUTNUMBERED ( 1:8 ) THEY MANAGED TOOUTNUMBERED ( 1:8 ) THEY MANAGED TO
DEFEND THE LAND AND DEFEATED THEDEFEND THE LAND AND DEFEATED THE
TURKS . THIS DAY COMMEMORATES THE DAYTURKS . THIS DAY COMMEMORATES THE DAY
WHEN THE TURKS FINALLY WITHDREW FROMWHEN THE TURKS FINALLY WITHDREW FROM
MALTA .MALTA .
IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BETTER DEFENDIN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BETTER DEFEND
ITSELF IN CASE OF FUTURE SIMILAR ATTACKSITSELF IN CASE OF FUTURE SIMILAR ATTACKS
THE GRAND MASTER OF THE KNIGHTS OFTHE GRAND MASTER OF THE KNIGHTS OF
THAT TIME JEAN DE LA VALLETTETHAT TIME JEAN DE LA VALLETTE
COMMISSIONED THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACOMMISSIONED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
NEW CITY WHICH WAS LATER NAMED AFTERNEW CITY WHICH WAS LATER NAMED AFTER
HIM , VALLETTA , WHICH IS THE CAPITAL CITYHIM , VALLETTA , WHICH IS THE CAPITAL CITY
OF MALTA TODAY . SADLY LA VALLETTE DIEDOF MALTA TODAY . SADLY LA VALLETTE DIED
IN 1568 BEFORE THE CITY WAS READY ANDIN 1568 BEFORE THE CITY WAS READY AND
NEVER SAW IT .NEVER SAW IT .

23. OUR LADY OF VICTORIES (2)OUR LADY OF VICTORIES (2)
IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )IL-BAMBINA ( BABY MARY IN MALTESE )
8TH SEPTEMBER8TH SEPTEMBER
THIS DAY ALSO COMMEMORATESTHIS DAY ALSO COMMEMORATES
ANOTHER INTERESTING PART OF OURANOTHER INTERESTING PART OF OUR
HISTORY . WE ARE NOW IN 1940 ANDHISTORY . WE ARE NOW IN 1940 AND
MALTA IS UNDER BRITISH CONTROL .MALTA IS UNDER BRITISH CONTROL .
HITLER AND NAZI GERMANY WANTED TOHITLER AND NAZI GERMANY WANTED TO
INVADE MALTA IN ORDER TO HAVEINVADE MALTA IN ORDER TO HAVE
CLOSER ACCESS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN INCLOSER ACCESS FOR HIS CAMPAIGN IN
NORTHERN AFRICA . ON THE 11 JUNE 1940NORTHERN AFRICA . ON THE 11 JUNE 1940
THERE WAS THE FIRST AIR ATTACK BYTHERE WAS THE FIRST AIR ATTACK BY
GERMAN PLANES . LATER WHEN ITALYGERMAN PLANES . LATER WHEN ITALY
JOINED GERMANY MALTA WAS ATTACKEDJOINED GERMANY MALTA WAS ATTACKED
BY BOTH GERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY FORBY BOTH GERMAN AND ITALIAN NAVY FOR
A TOTAL OF 3000 RAIDS TIL THE END OFA TOTAL OF 3000 RAIDS TIL THE END OF
THE WAR .THE WAR .
ON THIS DAY IN 1943 ITALY SURRENDEREDON THIS DAY IN 1943 ITALY SURRENDERED
AND TURNED AGAINST GERMANYAND TURNED AGAINST GERMANY
EFFECTIVELY ENDING THE WAR FOREFFECTIVELY ENDING THE WAR FOR
MALTA . TO THE MALTESE PEOPLE BOTHMALTA . TO THE MALTESE PEOPLE BOTH
VICTORIES AGAINST GERMANY AND THEVICTORIES AGAINST GERMANY AND THE
TURKS WERE THANKS TO LADY MARY’STURKS WERE THANKS TO LADY MARY’S
INTERVENSION AND HENCE THERE IS AINTERVENSION AND HENCE THERE IS A
BIG DEVOTION TOWARDS HERBIG DEVOTION TOWARDS HER
THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND AS SHE SAVEDTHROUGHOUT THE ISLAND AS SHE SAVED
MALTA IN TWO VERY IMPORTANTMALTA IN TWO VERY IMPORTANT
OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY .OCCASIONS THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY .

24. Independence DAYIndependence DAY
2121STST
SEPTEMBERSEPTEMBER
ON THIS DAY IN 1964 MALTA BECAME OFFICIALLYON THIS DAY IN 1964 MALTA BECAME OFFICIALLY
AN INDEPENDENT STATE AND NO MORE A BRITISHAN INDEPENDENT STATE AND NO MORE A BRITISH
COLONY .COLONY .
UNDER ITS 1964 CONSTITUTION ,MALTA RETAINEDUNDER ITS 1964 CONSTITUTION ,MALTA RETAINED
QUEEN ELIZABETH II AS HEAD OF STATE ,QUEEN ELIZABETH II AS HEAD OF STATE ,
HOWEVER IT WAS GOVERNED BY A MALTESEHOWEVER IT WAS GOVERNED BY A MALTESE
GOVERNMENT .GOVERNMENT .

25. REPUBLIC DAYREPUBLIC DAY
1313THTH
DECEMBERDECEMBER
ON THIS DAY IN 1974 MALTAON THIS DAY IN 1974 MALTA
BECAME OFFICIALLY ABECAME OFFICIALLY A
REPUBLIC WHICH MEANTREPUBLIC WHICH MEANT
THAT FOR THE FIRST TIMETHAT FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN ITS HISTORY MALTA HADIN ITS HISTORY MALTA HAD
A MALTESE HEAD OF STATEA MALTESE HEAD OF STATE
. (The one in the middle). (The one in the middle)

26. Malta picturesMalta pictures

35. The EndThe End
