What Sette Giugno Means in Malta
Sette Giugno ("Seventh of June" in Maltese) is one of Malta's five national days, alongside Independence Day, Republic Day, Freedom Day, and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It is a commemorative occasion rather than a joyful celebration: the day honours the Maltese rioters who were killed by British colonial troops on 7 June 1919, an event widely regarded as a turning point on Malta's long road to self-government and independence.
Origins: The Riots of 7 June 1919
The unrest grew out of severe economic hardship in the aftermath of the First World War. Food prices had risen sharply, and the colonial administration's handling of the cost of living provoked widespread anger among the Maltese population. On 7 June 1919, protests in Valletta escalated into rioting. British troops opened fire on the crowd, and four Maltese men were killed. Their names — Manwel Attard, Ġużeppi Bajada, Karmenu Abela, and Ġanni Bencini — are central to how the day is remembered. The shootings became a symbol of Maltese resistance to colonial rule and are credited with accelerating the push for representative government.
Civic and Official Observances
As a national day, Sette Giugno is marked by official state commemorations. These typically include:
- Wreath-laying ceremonies at the monument to the victims of the 1919 riots, which stands in Valletta.
- Participation by the President of Malta, the Prime Minister, and other senior officeholders in memorial events.
- Public addresses and statements recalling the significance of the events of 1919 and their place in Maltese constitutional history.
- Coverage by national media, including television and radio programming devoted to the day's history.
Because Sette Giugno is a national day, government offices, schools, and many businesses are closed, and the Maltese flag is flown on public buildings.
Customs and Traditions
Sette Giugno does not carry the same popular festive traditions as some other Maltese national days. Its character is primarily commemorative and civic. The most consistent custom is the gathering of public figures, descendants, and members of the public at the Valletta monument for the laying of wreaths and moments of silence. Educational activities in schools often focus on the history of the riots and their constitutional consequences.
Food and Drink
There is no distinctive traditional food or drink associated specifically with Sette Giugno. As with other Maltese public holidays, families may gather for a meal at home or in restaurants, and food stalls and cafés in Valletta and other towns serve their usual fare. Any food customs connected to the day are general to Maltese public holidays rather than unique to this commemoration.
Religious Observances
Sette Giugno is a civic and national commemoration rather than a religious feast, and it does not have a fixed place in the liturgical calendar. Religious elements, where they occur, take the form of memorial Masses or prayers for the dead held in connection with the official commemorations, rather than a distinct religious tradition attached to the date.
Public Festivities and Regional Variations
The main public commemorations are concentrated in Valletta, where the 1919 events took place and where the memorial monument is located. Beyond the capital, the day is observed nationally through the closure of public institutions and the flying of the flag, but there is no evidence of significant regional variation in how different parts of Malta or Gozo mark the occasion. Unlike village festas, which are tied to local patron saints and vary greatly from town to town, Sette Giugno is a uniform national observance centred on the capital.
Historical Significance
The killings of 7 June 1919 are generally seen as a catalyst for constitutional change in Malta. In the years that followed, the colonial authorities moved toward granting the Maltese a greater measure of self-government, and the memory of the victims became part of the narrative of Maltese nationhood. When Malta became a republic in 1974, Sette Giugno was retained among the country's national days, ensuring that the events of 1919 continue to be formally remembered each year.