Regional/Cultural Day
Jum il-Helsien
The anniversary of the departure of the British military from Malta on March 31, 1979. The day is observed with ceremonies at the Freedom Day Monument in Vittoriosa, and the reminder that Malta was a British colony for 180 years (1800-1979). The day is both celebration and reflection, because the departure of the British military also meant the loss of the military base economy, and the transition to a service economy was not easy. The monument in Vittoriosa marks the spot where the last British warship left Malta, and the ceremony includes a regatta in the Grand Harbour, where the traditional Maltese boats compete in races.
