Malta greets the New Year with open air parties in Valletta, Floriana
Video: Paul Spiteri Lucas
Malta joined the rest of the world in ushering in the New Year with national celebrations in Floriana and Valletta.
Thousands of people opted for the free open air parties and many others took part in private dos or spent quality time with family and friends.
As the countdown started, friends and strangers clapped, kissed and danced to usher in the new and bury the old.
As the clock struck midnight, fireworks coloured the dark sky and balloons were let off signalling the end of a year and the beginning of a new one.
Happy New Year to all our readers.
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43 Comments
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Mrs Jackie Marney
Jan 2nd, 07:12
I went to Valletta but it was so packed so i went to Floriana. I thought it was a midnight mass with this comedian talking in a different language, we spoke to the organizer and he said that it was programmed this comedy. This guy on stage kept on going and a group started booing and calling for music. No count down no new year atmosphere, very disappointing. Only in Malta
Charles DeMicoli
Jan 2nd, 00:22
After watching this video, I wonder, does anyone wish "Happy New Year" in Maltese anymore? Anyway, Xewqat Sbieh ghal Sena Gdida mimlija Hena, Risq u Ferh lin- nies ta' rieda tajba.
Bronwyn Cini
Jan 1st, 20:36
Happy new year Malta xxx
The talent in Malta blows my mind, fantastic singers in floriana. But was a tad disappointed in the silly act at the end noone came to hear about politics even if it was a joke. Also the audience boo and celebrations could be heard in valletta lol they missed the countdown. Made for a funny story lol. Is sena t-tajba all :)
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Jan 1st, 17:30
Fejn konna narawhom dawn il-festi ta' poplu Malti wiehed fiz-zmien is-socjalisti ta' Joey Muscat.
Karen Pace
Jan 1st, 15:59
Another Great evening in St George's square in Valletta. Enjoyed it all, especially Gianni & Filletti
Joseph Fenech
Jan 1st, 14:00
That is why the people should decide in a calm manner what the country has achieved or not in Health, Education, Employment/Job opportunities, Tourism , & Social Benefits as compared with what's happening all over Europe.
stephen mifsud
Jan 1st, 13:53
Happy New Years from Canada ... im going skiing now on Bliue Mountain Collingwood Ontario love you Malta c u soon ....:))
Jennifer Cosaitis
Jan 1st, 13:34
Well done to all involved in organising the show at St George's Square... great entertainment and a wonderful welcome to the new year!
Patrick Jansen
Jan 1st, 12:59
Many of you people are brainwashed by one of the two political parties. My wish for 2013 is that more people will start to think for themselves, instead of believing everything the political leaders tell them. Luckily it's already starting to happen with the younger Maltese generation. is senna it-tajba :)
David Farrugia
Jan 1st, 11:52
A message worth listening to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfoT7n1-Ajc&feature=player_embedded
Karl Consiglio
Jan 1st, 11:47
Watched it on TV, looked cheap next to what I saw on RAI UNO and Canale 5.
Mario Farrugia
Jan 1st, 13:15
Malti jgerger
Karl Consiglio
Jan 2nd, 00:03
Ghax ghandu biex!
Kurt Magro
Jan 1st, 11:44
Aw il guh f dak pajjiz... Kull party li kien aw fully booked ... restuarts ma sibtx... Guh kbir,,.. Sewwa jghid Joseph !
jason cassar
Jan 1st, 12:05
veru sew qet tajd ... u mill lum rohos il gas ha nroxxu l bzar !!
gawdi li fadallek habib ax gej joseph alik !
Kenneth Baldacchino
Jan 1st, 11:37
Happy New Year to all!! My wish for us "common" people is to get our priorities right and instead of getting lost in useless political divisions we will concentrate more on family, health and solidarity....
Michael Magri
Jan 1st, 11:17
Sinjuri Zahra, DeMartino ecc.. Alla hares Malta kollha m`ghandiex biex darba` f`sena tmur sal-Belt biex forsi jkollha budget ta xi 50 ewro biex tgawdi harga. Pero nafu fic-cert ukoll li mhux kulhadd jista jonfoq kemm jixtieq.. Anzi j`Alla jsir hekk.. Izda zgur li ma `rridux ninsew lil dawk il-85,000, iddikjarati f`riskju tal-faqar.
Is-Sena t-Tajba lill-Kulhadd..
Mario Borg
Jan 1st, 11:06
Well done to Gianni & co. for the great music after midnight!, rest was pretty sad
Peter Zahra
Jan 1st, 10:38
Il bierah kienet prova ohra kemm il poplu Malti m huwiex f sitwazzjoni ta faqar jew falliment..... Provajt nara nsibx niekol f wiehed mil hafna restaurants jew lukandi f zona madwar il belt (floriana u waterfront) u fil belt u bqajt b riha ghaliex kollha fully booked anke dawk b prezzijiet ta € 70 jew aktar il persuna !!!
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 1st, 11:08
Staqsi il- familji middle class (jekk tista tibqa sejhilhom hekk) ha tkun taf kemm jkun ilhom jahsbu xhur qabel biex jgawdu naqra f' dan iz- zmien. Staqsi siddien ta restaurant u hwienet biex qeghdin ihallsu l-izjed dan iz- zmien jekk hux bil credit jew debit cards ha tkun taf kemm hawn flus fil- but. Sena tajba.
W. Cassar
Jan 1st, 11:17
Its irrelevant Peter... one could also say that the masses preferred to go to a free venue than pay for a private one.
Anyway lets give the illness of Maltese politics a rest on the 1st!
M Grima
Jan 1st, 11:42
Mela skont int Sur Zahra, il-poplu Malti u Ghawdxi kienu kollha il-belt jiffangaw fl' ikel u jonfqu bl'addocc. U dan rizultat tal 'good feeling' li hawn fil-pajjiz. U int konvint li kullhadd 'sta bene' .
Prosit, kemm taf tfisser il hsiebijiet tieghek.
Martin Saliba
Jan 1st, 12:10
Peter, anki jekk tmur go xi post mimli faqar bhal india probabli isi kullumkien mimli . Da ma ifisirx li mhemx faaqar immaa li m hemx post ghal kull minn jiflah ihalls .
George Cassar
Jan 1st, 10:22
@ Giov De Martino
Your insight is incredible! Have a great year!
Giov DeMartino
Jan 1st, 10:54
I hope so. I only hope.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 1st, 09:45
Dal-guh se jeqridna minn wicc id-dinja.
Andrew Cumbo
Jan 1st, 11:15
Nispera li le Giov,imma il- faqar illum huwa mohbi mhux bhall meta kien fi sittinijiet bi talaba fi toroq. Nahseb tiftakru dak iz- zmien !!! U nahseb tiftakar ukoll is-sebghajnijiet meta dahlet il- pensjoni u paga minima biex il- faqar go pajjizna inqered. Sena tajba Sur De Martino
anthony sultana
Jan 1st, 09:42
Have a happy new year every one.Must keep it happy for all those days to come.
Claudia Spiteri
Jan 1st, 09:37
Great partying in Valletta-Floriana yesterday night. Well done to both local councils. Maltese talent at its best - singers, compares, organisation the whole package. Well done. Only in Malta.
Peter Bonnici
Jan 1st, 09:52
You sure it only happens in Malta?
connie grixti
Jan 1st, 10:22
I was in Floriana for midnight and I was very disappointed. People ended up booing the people on stage going on and on with comedy which they believed was entertaining to the crowd. No countdown was held and no Auld Lang Syne. If it wasn't for the timely fireworks, people on stage would'nt have known that it was midnight. What a joke......Only in Malta!
Joanne Pulis
Jan 1st, 10:39
I was also in Floriana and agree with Connie Grixti, it was very disappointing. We met friends who left Floriana to go to Valletta because Floriana was boring. The act on stage really had no idea of the time. Last year's celebrations were so much better.
Ruth Muscat
Jan 1st, 08:46
it was great at valetta yesternight, well done everyone!
Anthony A. Mifsud
Jan 1st, 08:26
To all the readers and bloggers may the new year 2013 brigs a wind of change and my apologies for hitting high and low.
Thanks Sur editor
Ninu
Denis Pace
Jan 1st, 09:58
Happy New Year, Ninu.
We all hope that this "change" will not be for the worse!!!
Jv Vella
Jan 1st, 08:22
It would have been better if the main celebrations were held at the Granaries in Floriana since the area is much larger than St Georges square. I went and I didn't even reach the square. There were too many people. This is a good sign but the square is too small.
twanny borg
Jan 1st, 08:16
is-sena t-tajba lil kullhadd. hsibijiet tieghi jmorru fil-morda, genituri u qraba f'homes jistennew bhal erwieh tal-purkatorju lil min izurhom. f'din il-haga sinjuri u fqar ghandna min jiehu hsieb u ghandna min nesa li ghandu genituri.
Judy Vassallo
Jan 1st, 03:43
To all Malta Times readers I wish you a Happy and Healthy new Year from Sydney Australia
annie gauci
Jan 1st, 10:14
same to you from here in Malta
Anthony Paul Naudi
Jan 1st, 03:38
Hwienet, lukandi,restauranti kullimkien ippakkjat bin-nies u dak huwa sinjal tajjeb ghall-ekonomija. imma l-isbah wahda hija li dawn ikunu hekk is-sena kollha.Bil-gid tiehu gost u r-rota tibqa ddur. Good luck lil kulhadd u s-sena t-tajba mimlija gid, paci u hena ma kulhadd.
A.P.Naudi
Alexander Montebello
Jan 1st, 02:51
Sincerely.... HAPPY NEW YEAR, WORLD!!! Xxx
Lawrence Dimech
Jan 1st, 01:45
Happy New Year to all in Malta from Lawrence & Marlene Dimech
Sydney, Austrlia
Peppi Borg
Jan 1st, 00:59
Happy new year to all the staff at TOM and all the Maltese people.
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