Birkirkara

Birkirkara
B'Kara, Birchircara,
San Ġwann tal-Għorgħar
Local council

Skyline of Birkirkara

Flag
Coat of arms
Motto: In hoc signo vinces
Coordinates: 35°53′48″N 14°27′45″E / 35.89667°N 14.46250°ECoordinates: 35°53′48″N 14°27′45″E / 35.89667°N 14.46250°E
Country  Malta
Region Central Region
District Northern Harbour District
Borders Balzan, Iklin, Lija, Msida, San Ġwann, Santa Venera, Qormi
Government
 • Mayor Joanne Debono Grech (PL)
Area
 • Total 2.7 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Elevation 40 m (130 ft)
Population (March 2013)
 • Total 22,319
 • Density 8,300/km2 (21,000/sq mi)
Demonym Karkariż (m), Karkariża (f), Karkariżi (pl)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code BKR
Dialing code 356
Patron saints St. Helen; St. Mary; St. Joseph the Worker; Our Lady of Mount Carmel; 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
Website Official website

Birkirkara or B'Kara (Italian: Birchircara) is a town in the Central Region of Malta. It is the most populated town on the island, with 22,319 inhabitants as of March 2013.[1] The city consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount 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 Emeritus Edward Fenech Adami and former Opposition Leader Alfred Sant and also the birthplace of the first president of Malta Anthony Mamo. The city's motto is In hoc signo vinces, and its coat of arms is a plain red cross, surmounted by a crown.

Description

Wignacourt Aqueduct at Fleur-de-Lys
The Birchircara Old Railway Station

There are many places of interest in Birkirkara, amongst them the Old Railway Station which is today located within a public garden. Trains were used as means of transportation across the island until the Railway's closure happened in 1931. Other town features include the Wignacourt Aqueduct built in the 17th Century, and St Helen's Basilica, housing Malta's largest church bell. Birkirkara is one of Malta's oldest towns and 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 the hamlet of Ta' l-Ibraġ hived off Birkirkara to form part of the new parish and locality of Swieqi in 1993.

Birkirkara's main religious feast 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 (with a titular statue) 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 a.m. The statue is lifted to shoulder-height by a group of townsmen and is carried through the main streets of the town.

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

Climate

In Birkirkara, the temperature varies from 10.3 to 30.7 °C (50.5 to 87.3 °F) during a year.[2]

Birkirkara[2]
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
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

Birkirkara Local Council

The current Birkirkara local council members are:

Birkirkara Community Service

Zones in Birkirkara

Mrieħel

Sport

Birkirkara is known for its football club, Birkirkara F.C., who won the Maltese Premier League four times.

References

  1. ↑ "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2013" (PDF). Malta Government Gazette 19,094. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Birkirkara climate and weather". world 66. world66.com. 10 June 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Birkirkara.