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CELEBRATING VICTORY DAY
MALTA'S INTENSE HISTORY OF MEMORABLE EVENTS IS DOTTED WITH DATES WHICH ARE RATHER MORE PRONOUNCED THAN OTHERS ON THE SCALE OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. SUCH A DATE IS THAT FALLING ON SEPTEMBER 8, ALBEIT KNOWN AS II-VITORJA.
Literally translated into 'day of victory/Victory Day', il-Vitorja celebrates a bevy of events which happened down the annals of history, starting as early as 1565. This date is etched in stone for Malta, since it commemorates the end of the Great Siege of Malta which had seen the Ottomans holding Malta at their mercy with constant attacks from the sea. Between May 18 and September 11 1565, Malta was held at ransom through the heat of a very long and extremely dangerous summer, with the danger of falling captive of the feared Ottomans. Together with the Knights of St John who at the time ruled Malta, the Maltese fought valiantly until the end.
Image: Victory Day celebrations, Valletta © DOI
This event alone deserves remembrance. However September 7 also coincides with the termination of the short but intense French occupation of Malta during 1800. A third coincidental event happened on the day, when the Italy Fascists and their regime were overthrown in 1943. Malta was thus free of the constant Italian aerial bombardments and could concentrate on thwarting damage caused by the German aerial fleets.
Image: Regatta © www.viewingmalta.com
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Image: The Malta Experience audio visual spectacular
As if that were not enough to celebrate in one day, four towns around Malta and Gozo celebrate 'Il Bambina' a religious feast dedicated to Our Lady Child. After the 1565 victory, the feast started being called 'Il-Vitorja' – Our Lady of Victory. The towns are Senglea, Mellie˙a, Naxxar and Xag˙ra (in Gozo). So how does Malta commemorate all this historical build-up? This year September 8 falls on a Sunday which is a day of rest for most people. During the morning a variety of State ceremonies are held ahead of the traditional Regatta which livens up the Grand Harbour waters during the afternoon. Hundreds of people flock towards the harbour shores to watch the harbour town teams of boat oarers participate in this annual sea race.
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MARITIME SENGLEA AND ITS WONDERS The Three Cities include Senglea (or Isla as it is called in Maltese) which is one of the oldest cities of the entire Maltese islands. In keeping with its character, Senglea will be this year hosting The Revival Of Old Towns and Cities Conference which will be held in tandem with the fifth edition of the Maritime Senglea International Festival. The Isla Local Council has marked the long weekend stretching from Thursday 12 September to Sunday 15 September 2013 for these events. The Conference will include the participation of three other European towns – Daugavpils, Latvia; Zarasai, Lithuania and Fara San Martino, Italy. The conference, funded with support from the European Commission under the Europe for Citizens programme will be open to local and foreign delegates. Presentations, discussions and workshops will focus on common factors that affected the four participating towns during World
War II – factors such as bombardment, displacement, migration and rescue of artistic treasures and relics. The Maritime Senglea International Festival will organize a number of exhibitions, a sacred choral concert, themed and guided pedestrian and train tours around the city; an Arts Fair along the Senglea waterfront; open-air performances, maritime sports, and traditional food. The events are free for all and promise to entice many local and foreign visitors to the old city of Senglea. Keep abreast with information on The Revival of Old Towns and Cities Conference and on the Maritime Senglea International Festival by checking out www.maritimesenglea.com or www.revivaloldtownscities.eu or call t. +356 21662424 / +356 27013004
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LEJL F’CASAL FORNARO Casal Fornaro is all about the town of Qormi and all about bread. Held annually, this year's event should see you blocking off the evenings of September 20 and 21 on your diary. The events will provide the excellent opportunity to experience a bread festival like no other, plus genuine traditional Maltese food, folk songs, street drama, cultural exhibitions and live entertainment, from varied local bands as well as traditional song known as 'G˙ana'. On the 20th of September, the Qormi bread festival showcases diverse varieties of breads from different countries around the world. A special focus will be made on Maltese bread, whilst all breads will be exhibited and sold. The focal point will be a hundred metre-long baguette filled with Gozitan peppered cheeselets and other traditional fillings. This enormous bread roll will be baked and sold with all proceeds going to charity. Another star attraction will be a competition on the best Maltese trifle. The evening of the 21st offers also the opportunity to visit a typical World War II shelter and attend a drama which represents the outbreak of plague on Malta in 1813, precisely 200 years ago. This national activity is co-ordinated by the Kummissjoni Żgħażagħ Bastjaniżi, with the cooperation of the Qormi Local Council and involves also other associations in the St Sebastian parish. For more information visit www.casalfornaro.com
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Image: Freshly caught lampuki © Clive Vella - www.viewingmalta.com
LAMPUKI AND KAPPAR Lampuki season is here. For those who love fish, the name of this particular fish might not ring any bells but translated into English, the dolphin fish becomes one of the tastiest and most abundant of fish in the Mediterranean at this time of year. Technically known as the Coryphaena hippurus, this fish is common in all temperate, tropical and sub-tropical regions and can grow to disproportionate sizes. The lampuka is a staple inclusion in the culinary diet of the Maltese at this time of year and it is with enthusiasm that street corner vendors are awaited after each hefty catch.To the Maltese, the tastiest of lampuki are those caught when still young, generally in mid-August. Their meat is succulent and quick to cook, with great preference being made to the fried or stewed versions. Larger lampuki which are caught later in the year, closer to November, are generally stored for future baking into pies.
Image: Lumpuki seller, Victoria Gozo © IMPACT PR
One important ingredient in the preparation of lampuki is the caper. Picked fresh off the wild bushes in May, the caper is cured in sea salt and water until tender and then used with good measure in varied ways. It can be included in Maltese bread sandwiches and buns, in fish sauces, in fish dishes and in soups such as the Aljotta. The fact that it grows wild and is not cultivated, means that pickers take to the fields and garigue during the early mornings and late afternoons and pick as many capers as they are able to bottle and cure back home. Many times, capers grow spontaneously in wayside locations, in the cracks of old masonry and in the gaps between stones composing rubble walls. If you want a taste of the sea, try some freshly cooked lampuki with capers and fresh olive oil – divine!
Image: Wild capers plant © IMPACT PR
LIVING IN MALTA & GOZO A PLACE IN THE SUN Malta and Gozo are becoming increasingly popular locations for the purchase or rental of second homes. Situated at the very heart of the Mediterranean Sea, with easy access from all major cities in Europe, North Africa and neighbouring states, the Islands have many advantages to offer, including the following:
WHY MALTA • An excellent climate with pleasant all year round weather. • Genuinely friendly and hospitable people who will make it easy to integrate within the local community. • Very low levels of crime which make Malta one of the safest places in the region. • A member of the European Union since 2004, Malta is an independent republic enjoying political stability. • English is one of the two official languages of the Islands and is spoken fluently by everyone. • The Island boasts a high standard of hospital and medical services, both private and public. • Excellent schooling, often exceeding international standards, with a choice of English-speaking schools and University. • A relatively low cost of living. • A stable property market offering a wide variety of properties in all price ranges, and good prospects for capital growth. These, together with an abundance of historical and cultural attractions, crystal clear seas, a variety of sporting facilities (including world class diving) and a lively calendar of events, make these Islands a favourite for those seeking their dream ‘Place in the Sun'. Moreover, the residency conditions are very attractive and include a favourable tax regime and the absence of Rates or Council taxes.
THE STORY OF WATER IN THE MALTESE ISLANDS WORLD TOURISM DAY 2013
FLYING TIMES Malta – London 3.05hrs Malta – Frankfurt 2.35hrs Malta – Rome 1.15hrs
Malta – Amsterdam 3.05hrs Malta – Paris 2.35hrs Malta – Cairo 2.25hrs
PURCHASE OF PROPERTY BY NON-MALTESE BUYERS It is quite easy for a non-Maltese to purchase property in Malta and Gozo. Naturally, some conditions apply including certain restrictions regarding the minimum value of property that can be purchased and the use that the buyer will make of the property. Some buyers may also require a special permit.
MORE INFORMATION For further information and assistance, we recommend that you contact one of the excellent local Estate Agents who can offer professional guidance and advice to help you make the best choice.
If you are an expatriate living in Malta or Gozo...
you may regularly receive a link to the online version of this monthly magazine in your email. Simply e-mail us on: info@impactpr.com.mt
Image: St. George’s Square, Valletta © Clive Vella
This year, World Tourism Day 2013 is being dedicated to water with the title of “Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future”. Water is a hot issue on an island such as Malta, and this issue dates back to periods immemorial, for varied obvious and not so obvious reasons. Malta originally enjoyed fertile valleys which must have enticed pre-historic wanderers to set up base on the islands. However, whilst winter greenery is satisfying aplenty, the harsh summer months render most areas bare and this probably caused great distress. With no natural water sources except for seawater around its perimeter, Malta's lack of water supply becomes very obviously hard to live with. Maltese dwellers learnt to preserve water by storing rainwater in cisterns and underground wells.This happened as early as the Roman times. The Knights of St John addressed the issue of water supply by creating a 12-km-long aquaeduct from Rabat all the way down to the newly constructed Valletta.
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D A Y B Y D A Y
Image: Aquaeduct © Rene Rossignaud - www.viewingmalta.com
a - www.viewingmalta.com
Image: Fresh water across the countryside © IMPACT PR
The British in turn created a series of dams in the area known as Chadwick Lakes, and the water is still used profusely for farming in Rabat and Mosta. Similarly to the Knights of St John, the British addressed the water issue on Gozo by creating an aquaeduct to supply water to Victoria's dwellers. Today, most of Malta's water supply is retrieved from reverse osmosis plants that desalinate seawater. Starting as early as the 1970s, the desalination projects increased in order to supply a good 60% of Malta's water consumption. Yet, the Maltese remain highly conscious of the importance of water and still hold to the old saying that reminds us how every drop of water is important.
Image: Valletta fountain © IMPACT PR
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ÛEJT IÛ-ÛEJTUN
THE OLIVE OIL EVENT ÛEJTUN CENTRE –28TH AND 29TH SEPTEMBER 2013
Malta has a long history of olive oil making tradition even whilst olive oil is not a staple production of the islands today. Proof of this tradition is the name of one of Malta's most prominent southern towns - ‘Ûejtun’. Derived from Semitic origins, the name of Ûejtun is directly linked to oil (Ωejt) and associates directly to the fruit of the olive tree. As from Punic and Roman times, the cultivation of olive trees was of immense importance until the Arabs occupied the islands. Slowly olive trees were replaced by cotton trees with the latter turning cotton making into the chief industry to replace olive oil making. Over recent decades, the olive tree has seen itself slowly re-achieving the respect it deserves and olive oil production has picked up once more. Although not as important as it was in biblical times, olive oil making is once more becoming the key culinary ingredient of Maltese cooking. During Ûejt iΩ-Ûejtun, the Ûejtun Local Council organises varied events. First comes the BANDU during which the opening of the event is held. After which a festival of traditionally dressed village folk, singers and performers will take Ûejtun back to medieval times. This step back in history is not just about costume but also about agricultural implements, traditional food and country-style entertainment. Key historic sites, band clubs and the church belfry will be open for public viewing whilst Sunday morning will see the tradition blessing of the animals outside the old parish church of St Gregory.
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