Almost 2,000 years ago, St. Paul’s shipwreck in Malta was immortalized in the Acts of the Apostles. To this day, the Maltese celebrate this event with parades and festivities, ensuring their patron saint is remembered and history remains alive. This celebration takes place just three days before carnival, making it a perfect time to visit this intriguing island.
February 10 is a public holiday in Malta, commemorating the national patron saint, St. Paul, and his shipwreck around 60 AD. The day is marked by a colorful parade in Valletta, covered in confetti, and is highly esteemed as the first public holiday of the year.
Given the fierce winds and freezing temperatures on this day, it’s easy to imagine how cold that shipwreck must have been. In 60 AD, a ship from what is now Turkey, carrying around 275 prisoners, wrecked on Malta. Miraculously, no one drowned. The survivors, wet and cold, were welcomed by the local Maltese who lit fires to keep them warm. Among these survivors was St. Paul. This event, along with the kindness shown by the Maltese, was later recorded in his Acts of the Apostles.
On February 10, the entire nation celebrates with a confetti-filled parade in Valletta. This event, centered around the Collegiate Parish Church of St. Paul’s Shipwreck—one of the oldest churches in Valletta dating back to 1570 AD—is attended by many as it is the year’s first public holiday. Masses are held throughout the day, filling the church as the Maltese celebrate their Catholic faith.
In the afternoon, a statue of St. Paul is carried in a procession around the city. The streets are adorned with decorated red banners while people throw confetti from windows onto the statue and parade. A marching band plays as people greet, yell, and pray at the statue.
This celebration of St. Paul is a prelude to the Carnival that begins just three days later. Music, confetti, and festivities abound as people celebrate.
Even 2,000 years after St. Paul’s shipwreck, the Maltese continue to brighten February days with their spirited celebrations.
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