It's no surprise that most people reading this article don't know where Malta is, let alone know that it's an independent country. My country is a very small island in the Mediterranean, about the size of a pin dot on a map. Approximately one hundredth of a percent of the United States' population identifies as Maltese. Well, I am apart of that wonderful one hundredth of a percent. We are fun, loud people, who love to eat and love to be with our families. Everything about my heritage makes me proud, but these are my favorites...
1. Food
Obviously! A lot of the food is similar to Italian, but there are some things you probably haven't heard of. Every morning starts off with a pastizzi: a buttery, crunchy outer layer made of dough, with warm ricotta cheese in the middle. It's no surprise if you see me with about two or three. When you get hungry on the beach in the afternoon, go to the food stand and ask for a hobz biz-zejt. This sandwich is FULL of tuna, tomatoes, capers, and olives; tastes even better when you let it warm up in the sun. Dinner is my favorite whenever I visit, mainly because it includes pasta 95 percent of the time. Being an island, the seafood is absolutely unreal, so if you get the chance to have some you better take it. My mom's favorite is spaghetti with rabbit sauce. Sounds a little strange, but yes we eat bunnies. It tastes just like chicken, I promise. Ending the night with a cup of gelato is a must. Honestly, every food you can possibly have is a must. Just eat until you physically can't move.
2. Landscape
Many of you might not know this, but Malta is a go-to destination for film makers. The scenes in "World War Z" that are said to take place in Israel, actually was filmed in Malta's capital city! It may only be a whopping 122 square miles, but those are the most beautiful miles I've ever seen. If you want sandy beaches with crystal clear, blue waters, Mellieha Bay is the place to go. If you want lush gardens with a view of the harbor and Fort St. Angelo, take a walk to the Upper Barakka in Valletta. Just a short boat trip to the island of Gozo brings you to the famous Azure Window, which can be seen in the TV show, "Game of Thrones."
3. History
Malta has played some huge roles in world history. Even dating back to pre-historic times! Many of the temples from this period are still beautifully in tact. The Tarxien temples, and the Mnajdra and Hagar Qim temples are believed to be built around 3100 B.C., way before the great Egyptian pyramids. Fast forward a couple hundred years and you can find traces from ancient empires like the Romans, Phoenicians and Byzantines. In 60 A.D., Saint Paul shipwrecked while traveling to Rome, which is how Christianity came to the island. The Arabian people conquered the island in 870 A.D., and had an immense impact on the Maltese language. Medieval times brought the Knights Hospitaller, also known as the Knights of Saint John the Baptist, who had a headquarters in Malta and played a major role in the crusades. Forts can be found all over that date back to this period, like Fort St. Elmo in the capital city. Napoleon Bonaparte took over the island in 1798, but didn't last long when the Maltese requested aid from England in 1800. Malta played a key role in both World Wars as a supply and nursing country for the Allies. September 21, 1964 is the day Malta gained independence from England after centuries of being under other countries' control. Wherever you go on the island, history is all around you.
4. Tradition
Religion is very important in Maltese culture, which impacts many traditions and customs. The summer months bring out "festas" which are days long and include tons of food, dancing and fireworks. Each town has their own festival dedicated to their patron saint. These festas are taken VERY seriously. Streets are decorated, homes sometimes get a fresh coat of paint, and everyone does their part to make sure it's better than last years. Carnival is the highlight of February, bringing colorful floats, costumes, and tons of partying. Christmas is highly celebrated because of how religious the island is. A large ceremony takes place at Saint John's Co-Cathedral. The island is decorated with lights, nativity scenes, and trees full of glass bulb ornaments made in Mdina.
5. Family
It's common to meet someone who has the same last name as a piece of your family, and it's quite possible you're related even by the smallest margin. It's pretty typical for a Maltese family to be rather large. With a whole bunch of cousins, aunts, and uncles, it leads to loud family gatherings full of crazy antics and laughter. Unfortunately, mine lives in all different parts of the world, so we don't get to see each other as often as we would like. When we do, however, it's an amazing time with a million pictures and memories to prove it.
