The two victories of Malta – 1565 and 1943, will be commemorated in a ceremony on Tuesday, the 7th of September, in Xaghra, Gozo.

This year there will be a reduced programme and Victory Day will be marked with a Pontifical Mass at the Collegiate Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady, organised by Xaghra Parish, in conjunction with the National and Regional Celebrations Committee within the Ministry for Gozo.

At 6.07pm there will be the departure of the Armed Forces of Malta Band, together with the Guard of Honour from Triq Marija Bambina.

At 6.15pm The Armed Forces of Malta Band, together with the Guard of Honour will arrive in front of the Basilica.

At 6.20pm The arrival of the Commander of the Armed Forces.

6.23pm The arrival of Prime Minister Robert Abela.

6.26pm The arrival of President Dr George Vella.

A National Salute will be given and an Honour Guard inspection will be conducted.

The end of the Great Siege of 1565 is commemorated on the 8th of September, this year marks the 455th anniversary of the Great Siege of Malta; the epic 1565 battle that made a legend out of a little island that, against all odds, withstood invasion from an empire.

The Great Siege of Malta commenced in May of 1565 when the Ottoman Empire began invading Malta, which was then occupied by the Order of the Knights of St John.

After several months of continuous battle and bloodshed the Siege came to an end on the 8th of September, a date that continues to be commemorated with the annual public holiday Il-Vitorja.

There were various proclamations by Grand Master Jean Parisot de la Valette and one states that following the victory of the Knights and the Maltese over the invading army after a five month long siege in 1565, he declared that the 8th Day of September was to be remembered every year as the day of victory.

Another proclamation states that the day was to be dedicated to Our Lady of Victory.

The 8th of September also marks the end of the French occupation of Malta in 1800 and coincidentally, the armistice of the Fascist regime in Italy in 1943.

The connection with Malta in 1943 was two-fold – the bombardments by the ‘Aeronautica’ were over and the Italian Navy was brought to Malta to remain moored at St. Paul’s Bay until the end of the war.

Photograph: Victory Day 2019 by Alain Salvary

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