Independence Day (Malta)

This article is about the national holiday. For the day Malta gained its independence from the United Kingdom, see Malta § Independence_and_Republic.
Independence Day[1]
A view of shops with anti-British and pro-Independence signs
Official nameJum l-Indipendenza
Observed byMalta
TypeNational
SignificanceDeclaring Maltese independence from the United Kingdom
Date21 September
Next time21 September 2025 (2025-09-21)
Frequencyannual
Related toRepublic Day and Freedom Day

Independence Day (Maltese: Jum l-Indipendenza) is one of the five national holidays in Malta. It celebrates the day the country gained independence from the United Kingdom on 21 September 1964. Throughout its existence, Malta had a long and complex history which resulted in the island being ruled by a plethora of foreign rulers. Such rulers include the likes of the “Phoenicians, Romans, Greeks, Arabs, Normans, Sicilians, Swabians, Aragonese, Hospitallers, French, and British”.[2] Malta's final ruler, Britain, granted Malta self-governance after Malta's brave resistance to the Axis powers and loyalty to Britain during World War II, which did allow for the movement for independence to grow more in popularity.[3] Malta attained independence from the British Empire and joined the Commonwealth of Nations in 1964 and declared itself a republic a decade later,[4] known as Republic Day.

  1. ^ British Parliament. "Malta Independence Act" (PDF). Legislative.gov.uk, National British Government. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  2. ^ "Malta". Briticannica. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "Independence Day in Malta". Office Holidays. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  4. ^ "Enjoy the Celebrations of Republic Day in Malta!". Air Malta. Retrieved March 26, 2018.