The history and culture of Malta are genuinely fascinating and date back to the very earliest proof of human construction.
The culture of Malta reflects various societies that have come into contact with the Maltese Islands throughout the centuries, including neighbouring Mediterranean cultures, and the cultures of the nations that ruled Malta for long periods of time prior to its independence in 1964.
However, age-old traditions have travelled through generations and have allowed the Maltese to retain their roots. A likely reason for the survival of originally Maltese traits is the drive to establish an own identity in the face of foreign rulers, and more certainly the reliance on maritime trade has helped to shape and conserve what we know now as being Maltese culture.
There is little doubt that the country’s heritage has come under extreme threat in recent years as a real estate and construction boom has sidelined most other factors and constraints. Here at AllMalta we are hoping for more normal times to resume before the wonderful history is destroyed and lost forever.
Roman Catholicism is a major influence on Maltese culture. Various traditions have evolved around religious celebrations, notably those honouring the patron saints of towns and villages. The eight-pointed, or Maltese, cross, adopted by the Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem in 1126, is commonly linked with Malta’s identity and is printed on the country’s euro coin.