The Maltese can argue about anything but when they see that red and white flag they unite. This is something that cannot be faked.
National Pride, maybe more commonly known as patriotism, is the feeling, devotion and sense of attachment to your homeland, an attachment that can be a combination of various feelings to one's own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political or historical aspects.
Devoted love, support, and defence of one's country – national loyalty.
We have come a long way from the days when we considered foreigners as superior. As Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said back in January: “National pride has reached a historic level. There were times when we started believing that others were better than us that they could do better at everything. A strong sense of pride has returned today, where we believe in our abilities, and that we can be as good as others, if not better.”
In his speech in Tarxien, Dr Muscat delved into the economic, financial, health, employment and other sectors of our society, which today are faring far better when compared to more than 25 years back. Statistics, surveys and international fora are all confirming this national performance.
I totally agree and add that we also have a blessing that we are a nation, a small state, but huge in other aspects. Take culture and our historical background.
+++
I reiterate that culture unites us all. A sector that unquestionably brings about national pride, a sense of belonging when we look at all achievements obtained throughout the centuries.
I had two recent occasions that are directly connected to our illustrious history. Both events celebrating the importance of historic events that evolved us into nationhood.
During the current year, Malta will be celebrating anniversaries of national importance. Apart from the historical significance which these anniversaries carry, their celebrations garner national importance especially since they commemorate meaningful occasions which have shaped our country and our identity.
Speaking at the launch of the programme of events commemorating these anniversaries I said that in our culture strategy, we always promote an inclusive sector, and thanks to our huge investment, we are bringing about more cultural growth by reaching out to more audiences, through engagement and accessibility.
Thanks to such initiatives brought by the likes of entities such as Fondazzjoni Ċelebrazzjonijiet Nazzjonali, we keep on providing outlets to promote creativity and engagement within culture and the arts, whilst keeping in mind future generations and their cultural legacy.
On taking up office as Minister for Culture, we immediately sought to give importance to anniversaries in our political and national history. Our discussions eventually brought about the founding of the Fondazzjoni Ċelebrazzjonijiet Nazzjonali in 2013, when the Maltese Council for the Arts was tasked by the Office of the Prime Minister to run an innovative project organising shows and cultural mass events to celebrate anniversaries of national importance.
Chaired by Professor Oliver Friggieri, the Foundation will this year emphasise a number of anniversaries that are happening this year, including the 40th anniversary of Freedom Day; the 100th anniversary of the Sette Giugno events; the 15th year of Malta’s membership in the European Union and the end of the Cold War.
A series of events and initiatives are in store for the commemoration of Freedom Day’s 40th anniversary, including a new edition of Ġensa and a documentary, presenting intellectual analysis of the events tied to Freedom Day.
The programme designed for the Sette Giugno centenary is vast and includes, among others, several events and initiatives, including the publication of a book that looks at the cause and effect of these historical riots and their impact throughout the years, an exhibition and various productions including a musical featuring original work and a documentary.
The Foundation will be collaborating with various other entities, including Heritage Malta, Teatru Malta, and PBS in the organisation of the events planned.
These activities, whilst reminding us all of events that our country went through, will surely fill us all with pride for our Nation and the richness of its history.
+++
Our history is an integral part of our identity, and by preserving all that pertain to our past, we are securing our history for our future generations, so that they will as well, take pride in what our ancestors went through in the shaping of our country.
Maybe one of the most visible examples, taking us back to the end of the Second Word War, is our own George Cross, and incorporated into our National Flag in 1943. Also commemorating this event is a plaque standing proud in St George’s Square, on the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta and inscribed with King George VI's letter to the then Governor of Malta: “To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history”.
During the war, the Maltese population had undergone a complete disruption of everyday life, having faced food shortages and been the target of incessant bombings by the Axis forces.
The volume holding a copy of the grant of the George Cross to Malta, and which preserves the record of this significant part of Maltese history and that of its people is held at the Notarial Archives within the Office of the Notary to Government.
This volume has undergone conservation treatment through a successful collaboration between the Office within the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Notarial Archives Foundation.
Through this initiative, we are helping to preserve this historic volume for future generations. Thanks to a sound culture strategy, we aim to bring our country’s heritage to the forefront in a way that it is more accessible to our society, especially during a time in which we are seeing a steady increase of interest garnered within the sector.
The volume holding a copy of the grant of the George Cross to Malta, has undergone conservation treatment through a successful collaboration between the Office within the Ministry for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Din l-Art Ħelwa and the Notarial Archives Foundation. A volume that carries with it intrinsic historical significance, depicting our country’s history and legacy.
The initiative was taken up following a guided visit in 2018 to the Notarial Archives for Din l-Art Ħelwa members. The conservation treatment was carried out by paper conservator Alejandra Molano Contreras, under the supervision of Head of Conservation Dr Theresa Zammit Lupi.
The volume required various interventions, such as surface cleaning, removal of old repairs, spine repair, and cover repair. A protective enclosure was created to house the volume safely and securely. All treatments were carried out using the highest quality grade conservation materials and following current and international conservation practice and work ethic. The collaboration between Din l-Art Ħelwa, whose members raised funds for the preservation of the volume, the Notarial Archives Foundation, together with the Office of the Notary to Government has contributed towards the endeavour of preserving Maltese national paper heritage and it is hoped to lead to further collaboration.
The volume contains the enrolment of the act drawn by the Chief Notary to Government, Dr Carmelo Farrugia. The contract is between Francis Campbell Ross Douglas, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Island of Malta and its Dependencies, and Sir George Borg, Chief Justice and President of His Majesty’s Court of Appeal, ‘wherein King George VI being desirous that for the greater honour and distinction of the Island of Malta’ grants that a representation of the George Cross proper is placed on a canton azure to be borne for the Island of Malta and its dependencies upon seals, shields, banners or otherwise according to the law of arms.’
The volume also contains other notarial deeds, such as sales of land, reconstruction of damaged accommodation and the supply of provisions and fuel, which further preserve aspects of the past of Malta and the culture of its population.
+++
National pride. When a country’s people join in to celebrate their achievements throughout the years. When a nation unites to applaud its country’s interests. When those that belong to a nation defend its reputation, in our case, making us all proud that we are Maltese.