| Birkirkara |
Coat of arms
|
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Motto: In hoc signo vinces
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| Official name: |
Birkirkara |
| Inhabitants: |
Karkariż (m), Karkariża (f), Karkariżi (pl) |
| Other names: |
B'kara, Birchircara, San Ġwann ta' l-Għorgħar (code: BKR) |
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| Latitude: |
35°53 '48" N |
| Longitude: |
14°27 '45" E |
| Area: |
2.7km² |
| Population total: |
21,858 (Nov 2005) (1st largest locality) |
| Population density: |
7,971/km² |
| Borders: |
Balzan, Iklin, Lija, Msida, San Ġwann, Santa Venera, Qormi |
| Patron saint: |
St. Helen; St. Mary; St. Joseph the Worker; Our Lady of Carmelo; St. Anthony of Padova |
| Day of festa: |
St. Helen August 18 (or first Sunday after date); Sunday after 15 August; May 1; First Sunday of July; First Sunday of June |
| Mayor: |
Michael Fenech Adami (PN) |
| Website: |
birkirkaraonline.com |
Birkirkara or B'Kara (English: Birchircara)[1][2] is a town of 21,775 inhabitants (as of November 2005) in central Malta. It is the largest and most populous town on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of the Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College. Birkirkara is the home town of President Edward Fenech Adami and former Opposition Leader Alfred Sant and also the first president of Malta Anthony Mamo. It is the birthplace of Malta's leading singer songwriter Walter Micallef.
The city's motto is "In hoc signo vinces", and its coat of arms is a plain red cross, surmounted by a crown.
There are many places of interest in Birkirkara, amongst them the Old Railway Station which is today located within a public garden.
The 'Birchircara' Old Railway Station
Trains were used as means of transportation across the island until the Railway's closure in 1931. Other town features include the aqueducts built by Grandmaster Wignacourt in the 15th Century and St Helen's basilica, one of the most beautiful churches on the Maltese islands, housing Malta's largest bell. Birkirkara is one of Malta's oldest towns and received mention in the 1436 Ecclesiastical Report establishing parishes in Malta and Gozo, from which Birkirkara emerged as the largest parish. Various parishes and suburbs developed out of Birkirkara over the years, inculding Sliema, St. Julian's, Msida, Hamrun in the 19th century and Santa Venera in the early 20th century. In more recent years, San Gwann (1965) and the hamlet of Ta' l-Ibraġ hived off Birkirkara to form part of the new parish and locality of Swieqi in 1993.
The main religious feast celebrated by Catholics in Birkirkara is that of St Helen which is celebrated on 18 August if it falls on a Sunday, or on the first Sunday after that date. The main event of the celebration is a procession with a large wooden statue carved by the Maltese master-sculptor Salvu Psaila. Notably, this is the only procession on the island carried out in the morning. The procession leaves the basilica at exactly 08:00 and returns to it at 10:45. The statue is lifted to shoulder-height by a group of townsmen and is carried through the main streets of the city.
Birkirkara has grown into an important commercial centre as well as a densely populated residential area. Birkirkara is known for its football club, Birkirkara F.C., founded in 1950. Despite having a crop of brilliant players over the past few years, the team had found difficulty in local leagues, arguably because of the rise of Valletta and subsequently Sliema. Despite difficulties, the football team won the 2005/2006 Championship, its second honour so far.
See also
References
- ^ Birchircara (Terra) - Geody search
- ^ Maps, Weather, and Airports for Birkirkara, Malta
External links
Coordinates: 35°53′48″N 14°27′45″E / 35.89667, 14.4625
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