Culture

Although, the Mediterranean culture dominates Maltese culture, some traits of the 150 yearlong British rule have also left their mark. Along with Maltese, English is the other official language of the land. The Catholic Church rules all the national and cultural traditions. These English churches are also considered to be serving as some of the most prominent landmarks in the Maltese villages and towns.

According to Maltese culture, abortion and divorce in Malta is considered to be illegal, although, the new generations have been trying to liberalize the existing laws and bring a little more flexibility to the system.

The Maltese language is supposed to be a byproduct of a number of languages that include Spanish, Italian, French, Sicilian and English. Malta is also known for producing some nationally recognized writers such as Joseph Attard and Francis Ebejer. The famous book ‘The Maltese Falcon', by Dashiell Hammett, has a great contribution in representing Malta to the world.

Malta is also reputed for its handicrafts especially silver filigree, hand-woven fabrics, handmade lace and brown glass. Equally strong is the musical influence on the Maltese culture with its folk tradition. Every year Malta hosts singing competitions where participants perform folk music and folk songs.

Typical Maltese cuisine includes grilled chops, timpana, a preparation of cheese, macaroni and egg pie, pastizzi (cheese pastries) and fenek (baked or fried rabbit in a pie or casserole).

A. Music

One of the most traditional and most popular forms of Maltese music is band music. At least one or two band clubs can be found in almost every town and village. It is also considered to be the mainstay of Maltese open-air festivals. The parish festa remains to be the main focus of the year for enjoying traditional Maltese band music. Apart from this, the lovers of this music form can also find a variety of marches and band performances held in different locations all through the year.

The island is also famous for its other musical traditions including classical and jazz. Several musical festivals and weekly music events cater to the varying taste and demands of the music lovers. Regular orchestra and solo concerts in historic spots add to the musical night outs of the tourists. St. James Cavalier and the Manoel Theatre are two such renowned venues hosting concerts. Various organ recitals are also a regular activity in the Maltese churches. One of the popular venues for numerous annual festivals is the Valletta.

B. Language

The people of Malta speak English, Maltese and Italian. Almost 35,000 people in Malta speak Maltese. The Maltese language is a Semitic language and has its roots in the Arabic lingo that came to Malta with the Arabian invasion in 870 A.D. The French speaking Normans also occupied Malta in 1090. Malta has also served as the Italian and Latin speaking Knights Hospitallers of St. John. In 1800 Malta changed to a British colony, replacing Italian with English and hence, gained the status of the most spoken local language.

Now, Maltese is the national language of Malta, which is widely used in all public sectors, churches, government offices, pres and other media. English on the other hand is mainly used for instructing students in schools, especially in higher educational levels.

C. Religious Practices

98% of the Maltese population is Roman Catholics. The Maltese life has always been greatly influenced by Catholicism with almost 87% regular churchgoing people. Evidently, religion plays an important role in influencing the Maltese social, political and even economical aspects. The local patron saint is honored during the village fest that strengthens the spirit of unity amongst the locals. An intense contest ensues between the different parishes during the spectacular displays of fireworks and parades. Several shrines placed in the street corners that are finely carved and colored, depict the religious presence in Malta. Some of the old-fashioned buses even have little shrines inside them with a ‘Jesus loves me' sticker beneath. The churches found in Malta are mostly baroque styled.

D. Major Events

Alarme

This show portrays the military encounter between the troops of Malta and Napoleon during the 1798 to 1800 blockade. The show is organized by the Malta Tourism Authority, while the Historical Re-enactment Group of Malta stages the performances.

The Festa Season

Held all through the summer season, during the festa season, almost 64 Maltese towns celebrate their patron saints. The festivals start from Friday with the adornment of the saint's effigy with the church treasures. The local bands perform parades on Saturday morning followed by a formal parade accompanying balloons, fireworks and banners ending at the band's club doors. The evenings are made colorful with more fireworks following a high mass. Sunday morning announces the beginning of the saint' day with processions and fireworks.

Easter Week

Maltese people observe the Easter week as both, a period of happiness and sorrow. You might find a more quiet and serene atmosphere in Malta from Monday to Thursday after the Palm Sunday. The doors of the ‘Last Supper' displays are opened after that.

Weekend before Lent Carnival

The commemorations of this weekend start before Ash Wednesday with most of the villages and towns hosting events and celebrations, marking the festive mood. The longest parade combined with the largest celebrations, which is accompanied by the most elaborate floats, can be found in the Valletta.

Easter Sunday

Maltese people celebrate this day with great joy. Church bells ringing throughout the island mark the celebration and festivities. A statue of the Risen Christ is carried along the streets in some of the cities. The traditional Easter dinner is served after mass with a roasted lamb.

E. Etiquettes / Do's & Don'ts

Do's

- Always follow punctuality and proper dress codes for business meetings.

- Cover your shoulders before entering a church.

- Do carry proper sun blocks. The Maltese sun can be really hot.

- Speak in English while attending business meetings. Maltese people are conservative about their business protocols.

- Wear ties only while visiting the most upscale restaurants. However, you need not even wear that if you are visiting in the month of August, which is the hottest month of the year.

- It is advisable to carry comfortable and loose cotton garments. Those visiting Malta between October and May should not forget umbrellas and raingear while trips during the winter months would require heavy sweaters.

Don'ts

- Women should not wear low-neck tops and dresses and men should not wear shorts while visiting churches in Malta.

- Do not violate the dress codes in churches, otherwise you could be denied entrance in the church. The Ta' Pinu church in Gozo strictly follows this rule.

- Do not smoke in public buildings, movie theatres and while on public transport.