7 British Influences That Have Stuck In Malta
Freedom Day or Jum il-Ħelsien is a great day for Malta. Not just because we get to revel in the glory of time off, but because it’s the day when we celebrate the withdrawal of British troops and the Royal Navy from Malta in 1979. #Epic
It’s a day to mark our nation’s casting off of its very last colonial shackle, and we’re damn proud of it. But as we celebrate with our families over a warming cup of tea, we’re reminded of a few classic British leftovers that – let’s face it – we haven’t tried as hard to shake off.
1. Tea
It’s like putting a stamp of approval on any and every social activity that occurs as we go about our days – belgħa te jew?
2. Biscuits
Tea doesn’t actually work without biscuits, and we do love us some classics of the British variety.
3. Bovril
A childhood staple – mixed with pastina and maybe some La Vache Qui Rit. Okay – fine – some of us still eat this as adults.
4. Red post boxes & phone booths
Technically we could have updated these. But why would we remove that brilliant pop of colour that works so well against our limestone jungle? #KeepingIt
5. Posh place-names
“Can we meet at St Anne’s Square?”
“Fej?!”
“Aw, ħdejn Mothercare…”
“Eh, sewwa…”
6. Football
Most Maltese people would give an arm and a leg for Manchester United/ Liverpool/Arsenal/Chelsea/random small Britsh team that their bużnannu used to support.
7. Comedy
From Fawlty Towers to Michael McIntyre and everything in between – we have never stopped loving British humour.
BONUS: The George Cross
How many people haven’t used the George Cross story to impress foreign friends? Zero? Yeah, that’s what we thought.
