Birkirkara

Birkirkara Birkirkara
Local council
St. Helen's Basilica – Parish ChurchSt. Helen's Basilica – Parish Church
Flag of BirkirkaraFlagCoat of arms of BirkirkaraCoat of arms
Motto: In hoc signo vinces
Coordinates: 35°53′48″N 14°27′45″E / 35.89667°N 14.46250°E / 35.89667; 14.46250
CountryMalta
RegionEastern Region
DistrictNorthern Harbour District
BordersAttard, Balzan, Iklin, Msida, Qormi, San Ġwann, Santa Venera
Government
 • MayorJoanne Debono Grech (PL)
Area
 • Total2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Elevation40 m (130 ft)
Population (January 2019)
 • Total24,356
 • Density9,021/km2 (23,360/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Karkariż (m), Karkariża (f), Karkariżi (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal codeBKR
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-04
Patron saintsHelena Empress; Saint Joseph; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; Anthony of Padua
Day of festaSaint Helen: 18 August (or first Sunday after date); Sunday after 15 August; 1 May; First Sunday of July; First Sunday of June
WebsiteOfficial website

Birkirkara (abbreviated as B'Kara) is a city in the eastern region of Malta. It is the second most populous on the island, with 24,356 inhabitants as of 2020. The town consists of five autonomous parishes: Saint Helen, Saint Joseph the Worker, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Saint Mary and San Gorg Preca. The city's motto is In hoc signo vinces, and its coat of arms is a plain red cross, surmounted by a crown.

Etymology

Valley road, c. 1900

Birkirkara means "cold water" or "running water". This is attributed to the valley in the town.

Originally, the name was written as Birchircara, as influenced by Italian spelling which traditionally does not use the letter 'K'. It is often abbreviated as B'kara/Kara.

Geography

Birkirkara is situated in a valley, which is most likely where it gets its name from. It is known for flooding on heavy stormy days. Several projects have been proposed. The area has also received embellishment works from time to time.

Climate

Birkirkara features a Csa Mediterranean climate under the Köppen climate classification. Birkirkara features mild, wet winters and dry hot summers. The city's temperature varies from 10.3 to 30.7 °C (50.5 to 87.3 °F) during the course of a year.

Birkirkara
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
    225     15 10     150     15 10     100     17 12     80     19 13     50     23 16     0     27 20     0     29 22     15     31 24     80     28 22     200     25 19     170     20 15     200     17 12
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
    8.9     59 50     5.9     59 50     3.9     63 54     3.1     66 55     2     73 61     0     81 68     0     84 72     0.6     88 75     3.1     82 72     7.9     77 66     6.7     68 59     7.9     63 54
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Description

Birkirkara is one of Malta's oldest towns with a recorded mention in 1402 with The Cappella of Birkarkam which is understood to be an error for Birkirkara. It received mention in the 1436 Ecclesiastical Report mentioning the then existing parishes in Malta and Gozo, from which Birkirkara emerged as the largest parish. Various parishes and suburbs developed out of Birkirkara over the years, including Sliema, St. Julian's, Msida, Ħamrun in the 19th century and Santa Venera in the early 20th century. In more recent years, San Ġwann (1965) and Ta' l-Ibraġ hived off Birkirkara to form part of the new parish and locality of Swieqi in 1993.

Birkirkara has grown into an important commercial centre as well as a densely populated residential area.

Wejter Valley in Birkirkara

Churches, architecture and notable places

Notable places

Birkirkara is home to many locations of importance.

St Helen Palace, Birkirkara

Churches

Birkirkara's main religious feast is that of St Helen at St. Helen's Basilica, which is celebrated on 18 August or on the first Sunday after that date. The main event of the celebration is a procession with a 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 8:00 a.m. and returns to it at 10:45 am. The statue is lifted to shoulder-height by a group of townsmen through the main streets of the town.

The Church of Our Lady of Victories is a small church found within the small narrow streets in the area known as 'Has-Sajjied'. This church was known to have existed as far back as 1575. In the 17th century when the parish church was being built this church was dismantled to allow easy access to the quarry that was supplying the stones needed. It was erected once again after the 1675–1676 Malta plague epidemic. The present church was built between 1728 and 1736 in the Baroque style. The internal pilasters follow the Tuscan style with the dome featuring floral motifs and emblems of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Monuments

Birkirkara Local Council

Tal-Wejter Tower, former defence on the valley

The Birkirkara Local Council forms part of the Birkirkara Civice Centre building. The current Birkirkara local council members are:

Birkirkara community service

Niche of All Souls close to St. Mary Church (Old Church) is a Maltese cultural heritage niche

Zones in Birkirkara

Mrieħel

Sport

Birkirkara has a multi-sport club in Birkirkara Saint Joseph Sports Club mostly known for its Athletics section, however, it also has active sections responsible for cycling, triathlon, swimming, and football, which competes in the Maltese Inter-Amateur Soccer Competition.

Birkirkara F.C. has won the Maltese Premier League four times. Birkirkara F.C. participated in the 2015–16 UEFA Europa League beating West Ham United F.C., only to be eliminated via penalties. Birkirkara also eliminated Heart of Midlothian in the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League. Malta's leader of the opposition Adrian Delia served as Birkirkara F.C. president from 2015-2016 and 2017-2018.

Natives

Iacob Heraclid, the Greco-Maltese adventurer who ruled over Moldavia in the 1560s, was born in the city. Eddie Fenech Adami, who served as Prime Minister and President of Malta, was born there, as was Anthony Mamo, the first President of Malta.

Twin towns – sister cities

Birkirkara is twinned with:

References

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  2. ^ "The Malta Government Gazette" (PDF). Government Gazette. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
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  7. ^ a b "San Gorg Preca - Parish Church - Swatar, Malta". www.quddies.com.mt. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
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  39. ^ "The Club History". Birkirkara FC. 6 December 1996. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
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External links

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