| Victory Day | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Fort_St_Angelo_by_night.jpg) Fireworks above Fort St. Angelo on Victory Day 2016, reminiscent of the bombings in World War II | |
| Also called | Il-Vitorja Il-Bambina |
| Observed by | Malta |
| Significance | In remembrance of the victories in the Sieges of Malta of 1565, 1800 and 1943 |
| Date | 8 September |
| Next time | 8 September 2024 |
| Frequency | annual |
Victory Day (or Otto settembre) is a public holiday celebrated in Malta on 8 September[1] and recalls the end of three historical sieges made on the Maltese archipelago, namely: the Great Siege of Malta by the Ottoman Empire ending in 1565; the Siege of Valletta by the French Blockade ending in 1800; and, the Siege of Malta during the Second World War by the Axis forces ending in 1943.
This day also coincides with the commemoration of the birth of the Virgin Mary, better known as the Nativity of Mary, which is celebrated in the villages of Senglea, Naxxar and Mellieha in Malta, and Xagħra in Gozo. It is locally known as il-Vitorja (the Victory) and il-Bambina (the Baby).[2] The traditional regatta featuring boat races in the Grand Harbour is held on Victory Day.
- ^ "Malta Events Calendar 2022". Maltalingua.com. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
- ^ "Il-Vitorja (Victory Day)", Visit Malta, Malta Tourism Authority