September2014 by IMPACT PR

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3600 BC

750 BC

The Temple Builders Die Tempelbauer Les constructeurs des temples I costruttori di Templi

218 BC The Romans Römer Les Romains I Romani

The Phoenicians Die Phönizier Les Phéniciens I Fenici

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MILESTONES MEILENSTEINE ÉTAPE IMPORTANTE PIETRA MILIARE

60 AD

870 AD

Christianity Christentum Le Christianisme Il Cristianesimo

1090 AD

The Arabs Die Araber Les Arabes Gli Arabi

The Norman Conquest Die normannische Eroberung La conquête normande La Conquista normanna

1565 AD

1530 AD

1798 AD

The Great Siege Die Große Belagerung Le Grand Siège Il Grande Assedio

The Knights of St. John Die Johanniterritter Les Chevaliers de St. Jean I Cavalieri di San Giovanni

1800 AD

1974 AD

Republic Republik La république La Repubblica

* Image:Heritage Malta • Bild: Heritage Malta • Image:Heritage Malta • Foto:Heritage Malta

The French period Die französische Periode La période française Il periodo francese

Arrival of the British Ankunft der Briten L’arrivée des anglais L’arrivo degli inglesi

1940 AD

World War II Zweiter Weltkrieg La deuxième guerre mondiale La Seconda Guerra Mondiale

2004 AD

EU Accession EU-Mitgliedschaft L’accès à l’UE L’accesso all’UE

1964 AD

Independence Unabhängigkeit L’indépendance L’Indipendenza

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The Great Siege of 1565

Image: The Ottoman batteries © Heritage Malta

“Rien n’est plus connu que le siégé de Malte” “Nothing in the world is better known than the Siege of Malta”

The year 2015 marks the 450th anniversary of the Great Siege of Malta which impinged notably on the then modern world. Besides being an important victory for the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John, it proved to be the very first Christian victory in a good amount of years which halted the Ottoman advancement towards West Europe. It was fought by a relatively modest force of Knights and soldiers of foreign extraction with the support of a few thousand able-bodied Maltese men. Together they defended the island against an intimidating Turkish army numbering some 40,000 souls.

Image: The arrival of the Piccolo Soccorso 5 July 1565 © Heritage Malta

The attacking Turkish army included 9,000 Spahis (hailing from Turkey’s western dominions), 4,000 Iayalars (terrifying fanatics who smoked hemp before battle and hurled themselves in suicide attacks), and 6,000 Janissaries (elite troops at the service of the Sultan). Together with the oarsmen and other volunteers, when their sails darkened the Eastern horizon on 18th May, there must have been few on Malta who did not wonder whether the Knights’ days were numbered. The Sultan had assigned the command to Mustapha, his foremost general, and to Piali, his Admiral of the Fleet, and recommended that they include in their council the famous Turgut Reis better known as Dragut, the corsair ruler of Tripoli. Dragut reached Malta following the commencement of the Siege and lost his life shortly afterwards while directing cannon fire against the walls of Fort St Elmo which was overtaken by the Ottomans on 23rd June.

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Image: Disembarkment of Ottoman Troops at Marsaxlokk 20 May 1565 © Heritage Malta

Fortunately, the Order of St John boasted of one man who equalled the appalling task threatening the island. The Grand Master, Fra Jean De Valette Parisot was the epitome of the medieval religious warrior. The force at his disposal was significantly small. It comprised 600 members of the Order and some 9000 soldiers, including a few thousand Maltese. For almost four months, the Knights of St John sustained constant bombardment, and countless attacks upon their positions. Heavily outnumbered, the Knights accomplished what many had thought impossible, and this with scarcely any assistance from the outside world.

The Gran Soccorso merely shortened the struggle, for by the time it arrived on 7th September, Turkish morale was low. Mustapha had run out of siege options and had lost thousands of troops with little to account for. Piali, an experienced sailor, knew also that the approaching winter weather threatened navigation back to Constantinople (nowadays Istanbul), now with lesser sailors to man the ships. The Turkish leaders thus concluded that fighting on was in vain, thereby leading them to opt for departure. The memory of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta is perhaps best epitomized in Voltaire’s own words: “Rien n’est plus connu que le siégé de Malte” “Nothing in the world is better known than the Siege of Malta

Image: Attack on Senglea 27 June 1565 © Heritage Malta

Local Councils Events in September Celebrating Tradition, Folklore and Culture

Image: Maritime Senglea

Image: Qala International Folk Festival © DOI

12th,13th Maritime Senglea International Festival 2014 L-Isla (Senglea) Waterfront, 18:00 till midnight As part of the Revival of Old Towns and Cities project funded by the European Commission, L-Isla will be hosting the sixth edition of its annual festival with grandeur including arts, music, dance, traditions, food and entertainment through exhibitions, concerts, interactive experiences and innovative settings for all out there to enjoy….not to be missed. Information: L-Isla Local Council t. 2166 2424 / 2701 3004 14th Mosta Attiva Pjazza Rotunda and surrounding areas

09:00-13:00

Mosta Local Council is celebrating the activity ‘Mosta Attiva’ on the 14th September in Mosta Square. The aim of this activity is two fold: • To celebrate the council’s activity during this year. This will see the unveiling of commemorative placques in the recently refurbished garden and alleys – Ìnien Reggie Cilia, Sqaq Sant Antnin and trejqet Sant Anna. The commemoration event will be carried out to the accompaniment of music provided by Band on the Run. • To encourage our residents is to be active by holding an event of sports, dance and other activites for the family on Sunday morning. Information : Dr Shirley Farrugia – Mayor – 99490079 19th - 21st Qala International Folk Festival Saint Joseph's Square, Qala, Gozo During the Qala International Folk Festival two foreign folk groups, one from Poland and the other from Sicily, along with local folk groups will entertain the audience in Saint Joseph's Square. This event is organized by the Qala Local Council together with the Menhir Qala Folk Group. All folk groups will wear traditional costumes accompanied by the group's musicians. The Qala Folk International Conference will be held on Saturday 20th September 2014 where there will be an exchange of ideas and information about how our ancestors used to think, entertain themselves and live. A re-enactment of a maltese wedding will also be held. This folk dialogue helps to find unity in diversity and to foster friendships. Information: 21552555/qala.lc@gov.mt mailto:21552555/qala.lc@gov.mt

GOZO: An Island For All Seasons

Seasons mark a holiday destination too and Autumn is for many the time to be in Gozo. The crisp air after the first rain, the crowd-free beaches with their still warm waters and the country trails embedded in nature offer a spiritual retreat of quiet and peace. But not only…

During the first days of September, the vibrant Mediterranean spirit still offers one of the most important traditional village festas in Gozo, the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady in Xagħra on the 8th September, known also as ‘Il-Bambina’. This beautiful village set on a hilltop overlooking a large part of Gozo, brims with tradition and history. It is also the location of the Neolithic temples of Ġgantija and other attractions including Ta’ Kola windmill, the Pomzkizillious museum of toys, Xerri’s Grotto and Ninu’s Cave. A trip to this village would not be complete, without a visit to the nearby Ramla beach, with its crystal clear waters and red sand.

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In September one can also still undertake a number of sea- related activities such as diving, and kayaking around Gozo’s impressive coastline, taking also the chance to snorkel along some of Gozo’s secluded bays. Rock climbing can also be another option during this month, as Gozo offers a variety of climbs across inland crags or impressive sea cliffs.

The 6th September will see the second edition of the Jazz Do festival at Mġarr, a great opportunity for lovers of this music genre. During this month preparations are also at their peak for the two operas in Victoria that take place during the month of October. This year will see two of Giuseppe Verdi’s most beloved operas, the Trovatore which is being held at It-Teatru tal-Opra Aurora, on the 11th October, and the Nabucco which is being staged at the Teatru Astra on the 23rd & 25th October. The latter is the highlight of this year’s Festival Mediterranea, running through October.

www.gozo.gov.mt

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Maltese Bread ÓobΩ Malti

ÓobΩ is the word for bread in Maltese. Maltese bread has a particular sour dough crust outside - inside it is very soft. Bread recipe never changed, it was made with few and simple ingredients - flour, yeast, plenty of water, sea-salt, hard work and lot of patience. Traditional Maltese bread had a long process of preparation. A piece of dough of the day before is mixed, as a starter with the day's dough. The batch of pastry was kneaded by hand in a large basin until the dough got white, some flour is scattered on top of the dough and covered with a cloth and let to rest for hours in a warm place, until double in bulk. With great ability bakers portion, shape and place the loafs on a floured wooden tray. Ovens were made of special heat resisting stone approximately 8 ft to 10 ft long and with an outlet made from cast iron. The temperature is raised to 500 degrees Celsius to bake bread and it takes around 1¼ hours to bake. A long wooden shovel is used to take the bread out of the scorching hot oven. Nothing beats the aroma of a fresh Maltese loaf. No meal was complete without bread. The sign of the cross was always made on the loaf with a knife before cutting the bread as a symbol of gratitude for having food on the table. Children were taught to pick up any thrown away bread, kiss the bread and put it in holes of rubble wall as a sign of respect.

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Ûejt IΩ-Ûejtun The Olive Oil Event 27, 28 September

Ûejt iΩ-Ûejtun the event celebrating the olive picking season and olive pressing for oil will be held in Ûejtun during the evening of Saturday 27th and on Sunday morning 28th September. The place name Ûejtun in its original Semitic connotation signifies the fruit of the olive trees and the cultivated olive tree, synonymous with the Mediterranean and popular since biblical times. As the place name indicates olive tree cultivation and its by-products were a prime activity in the South Coast of Malta in the Punic and Roman era with Ûejtun at its’ centre. Over the years, especially with the Arab occupation of Malta at the end of the first millennium cotton gradually replaced the olive tree. In recent years, olive tree cultivation, olive pressing for oil and its’ association with the healthy Mediterranean diet, have made a comeback. Ûejt iΩ-Ûejtun celebrates and commemorates all this. The event organized by the Ûejtun Local Council will kick off on Saturday at 19:30 with the BANDU announcing the event which will be followed by a defile of village folk and farmers on carts carrying the olive harvest for pressing. Drummers and flag bearers in medieval costumes as well as folk singers and dancers will be present. Agricultural tools, typical agricultural products and folk art will be exhibited in the ambience of an old country village and fair. Pride of place will be given to the olive tree. Maltese ftajjar and bread dressed in freshly pressed olive oil will be distributed for free tasting. Olive tress and associated products will be on sale. An audio visual presentation will feature olive tree varieties and their proper cultivation. On Saturday all important historical and civic sites will be open to the public. On Sunday morning at 08:00 a defile of horses and pets will take part in the traditional blessing near the old Parish Church of San Girgor. The two civic band clubs and church belfries will also be open for public viewing.

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World Tourism Day September 27

Tourism and Community Development

The Malta Tourism Authority and the Ministry for Tourism will be marking World Tourism Day together with the rest of the World. ‘Tourism and Community Development’ is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day as proposed by the World Tourism Organisation. The theme underscores the potential of tourism to promote opportunities for communities around the world, as well as the role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable tourism development. The global observance is to highlight tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value in today’s world. In order to mark this day with the rest of the world the Malta Tourism Authority and the Ministry for Tourism, together with various local entities and the private sector involved in the tourism industry, are preparing a series of events that will take place in various places. These events will kick off on Tuesday, September 23 and will continue daily until Sunday, September 28. For a detailed programme of the events please visit www.visitmalta.com/events or else contact any of the Tourist Information Offices on tel: 22915440/1/2 or else by email: info@visitmalta.com.

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