CULTURE
Malta's cultural influences
stem largely from its history of foreign domination and the predominance
of the Roman Catholic church. Folk traditions have evolved mainly
around the festa to celebrate the patron saint of a village, marked
by processions and fireworks. Good Friday also is celebrated with
colourful processions in several villages. Imnarja, the Feast
of St. Peter and St. Paul, which takes place on June 29, is the
principal folk festival; it is highlighted by folksinging (ghana)
contests and fried-rabbit picnics at Buskett. The annual Carnival
is celebrated at Valletta with vigorous dancing displays that
include the Parata, a sword dance commemorating the Maltese victory
over the Turks in 1565, and Il-Maltija, the Maltese national dance.
Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Malta, and Ta'
Qali National Stadium is the site of important local and international
matches.
Valletta is the centre of
many of Malta's cultural institutions: the National Museum of
Archaeology, the National Museum of Fine Arts, the War Museum,
the Manoel Theatre (one of Europe's oldest theatres still in operation),
and the Foundation for International Studies. The National Library
of Malta dates from the late 18th century and houses a large collection
as well as the archives of the Knights Hospitalers. The Folk Museum
and the Museum of Political History are located at Vittoriosa.
Until the early 1990s, Maltese radio and television stations had
been operated exclusively by the Malta Broadcasting Authority,
but a change in legislation has opened the way for privately operated
broadcasting stations. There are two daily newspapers in Maltese
and one in English.
