Sette Giugno in Malta
Sette Giugno is Malta’s national holiday on 7 June. It recalls the 1919 Valletta riots, in which British troops fired on a crowd during protests over the price of bread, killing four Maltese people. The day also remembers the events’ place in Malta’s political history.[1][2]
A national holiday with a fixed date
Malta’s National Holidays and other Public Holidays Act is the law governing national and public holidays. The government lists Sette Giugno among Malta’s national holidays, and the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) identifies 7 June as a paid national holiday.[1][3]
Sette Giugno falls on 7 June each year. The official holiday listings give that date, while DIER explains that workplace entitlements depend on the applicable Wage Regulation Order. If the holiday falls on an employee’s day off, the rules can provide additional vacation leave; arrangements for employees who work vary by sector. These are employment entitlements, not a general promise of a Monday substitute holiday.[1][3][4]
The events of 1919
On 7 June 1919, a series of riots followed steep bread-price increases and severe hardship. Crowds protested against grain importers and flour millers whom they believed were profiting while people went hungry. British troops were called in to control the crowds, shots were fired, and four Maltese men—Manwel Attard, Karmnu Abela, Ġużè Bajada and Wenzu Dyer—were killed.[2]
The events became a significant point in Malta’s political history. The Maltese Parliament says they highlighted the need for social and economic reform; after further efforts by Maltese authorities, the 1921 Amery-Milner Constitution granted self-government over domestic matters for the first time.[2] In 1989, an amendment to the holidays law made Sette Giugno one of Malta’s five national holidays.[2]
Commemorations in Valletta
Parliament traditionally marks the day with a speech by the Speaker of the House and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Sette Giugno monument. The monument is in St George’s Square, Valletta; a 2025 government account records the President laying a wreath there during remembrance ceremonies organised by Festivals Malta.[2][5]
The official accounts consulted document commemorations at the Valletta monument. They do not establish a customary Sette Giugno menu, a particular family observance or a consistent programme of cultural events across Malta and Gozo, so visitors should check official event listings for any activities planned during their stay.[2][5]
What to expect for practical arrangements
Opening hours and services differ by provider, so check directly with the place you plan to visit and with the relevant transport operator before travelling.[1][3][4]
Frequently asked questions
Is 7 June a public holiday in Malta?
What does Sette Giugno commemorate?
It commemorates the 1919 Valletta riots over steep bread-price increases, when British troops fired on the crowd and four Maltese men were killed.[2]
Is there a substitute day if 7 June falls on a day off?
The official holiday listings give 7 June as the date. DIER says the employment entitlement when a public holiday falls on an employee’s day off depends on the applicable Wage Regulation Order; its guidance can provide additional vacation leave. The official calendar lists no substitute day.[1][3][4]
Sources and references
Sources used for June 7th in Malta:
- Public Holidays in Malta- Government of Malta
- Sette Giugno Commemoration by the House of Representatives- Parliament of Malta
- National and Public Holidays- Department for Industrial and Employment Relations, Government of Malta
- Public Holiday Entitlements- Department for Industrial and Employment Relations, Government of Malta
- PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT- Office of the President, Government of Malta