Malta is the country with the most holidays in the European Union. Since 2005, any holidays falling on Saturdays or Sundays do not add an extra day to the workers' leave pool. National holidays 31 March: Freedom Day ('Jum il-Ħelsien') 7 June: Sette Giugno 8 September: Victory Day ('Jum il-Vitorja') 21 September: Independence Day ('Jum l-Indipendenza') 13 December: Republic Day ('Jum ir-Repubblika') Public holidays 1 January: New Year's Day ('L-Ewwel tas-Sena') 10 February: Feast of Saint Paul's Shipwreck in Malta ('Nawfraġju ta' San Pawl') - Saint Paul is the patron saint of Malta 19 March: Feast of Saint Joseph ('San Ġużepp') Friday before Easter: Good Friday ('Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira') 1 May: Worker's Day ('Jum il-Ħaddiem') 29 June: Feast of Saint Peter; Saint Paul, patron saints ('L-Imnarja') 15 August: Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady ('Santa Marija') 8 December: Feast of the Immaculate Conception ('Il-Kunċizzjoni') 25 December: Christmas Day ('Il-Milied') Traditional Feasts The following is a list of feasts or special days celebrated in Malta. Note that, with the exception of the dates mentioned in the previous section, these feasts are not public holidays and on these days, business runs as usual across the Maltese islands. As Malta is largely Roman Catholic, most of these feasts celebrate Saints or events from the Holy Bible. January January is known by the Maltese as 'ix-xahar tal-bard' ('the month of the cold') 1 January: New Year's Day ('L-Ewwel tas-Sena' or 'L-Istrina') First Sunday after 1 January: Epiphany ('Epifanija' or 'It-Tre Re') 13 January: Saint Anthony the Abbot ('San Anton Abbati') in Rabat 25 January: Conversion of Saint Paul ('Konverżjoni ta' San Pawl') in Mdina February February by the Maltese is known as 'ix-xahar ta' San Pawl' ('Saint Paul's month') 2 February: Candlemas ('Gandlora') 3 February: Saint Blase ('San Blas') 10 February: Saint Paul's Shipwreck ('San Pawl Nawfragu') in Valletta, Marsalforn and Munxar 14 February: Saint Valentine ('San Valentinu') March March by the Maltese is known as 'ix-xahar ta' San Ġużepp, tal-Lunzjata u tar-roħs' ('The month of Saint Joseph, the Annunciation and Sales') 19 March: Saint Joseph ('San Ġużepp') in Rabat 25 March: Annunciation ('Il-Lunzjata') 27 March: Jesus of Nazareth ('Ġesù Nazzarenu') in Sliema 31 March: Freedom Day ('Jum il-Ħelsien') April April is known by the Maltese as 'ix-xahar tan-nwhar u ta' San Girgor' ('the month of blossoms and Saint Gregory'). 1 April: April Fool's Day ('Il-Ġifa') First Wednesday after Easter Sunday: Saint Gregory ('San