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Ħamrun

Ħamrun
Il-Ħamrun
Casal San Giuseppe
Local council
Ħamrun skyline
Ħamrun skyline
Flag of Ħamrun
Flag
Coat of arms of Ħamrun
Coat of arms
Motto: Propera augesco
(I grow rapidly)
Hamrun in Malta.svg
Coordinates: 35°53′10″N 14°29′22″E / 35.88611°N 14.48944°E / 35.88611; 14.48944Coordinates: 35°53′10″N 14°29′22″E / 35.88611°N 14.48944°E / 35.88611; 14.48944
Country  Malta
Region Southern Region
District Northern Harbour District
Borders Floriana, Marsa, Msida, Pietà, Qormi, Santa Venera
Government
 • Mayor Christian Sammut (PL)
Area
 • Total 1.1 km2 (0.4 sq mi)
Population (March 2014)
 • Total 9,244
 • Density 8,400/km2 (22,000/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Ħamruniż (m), Ħamruniża (f), Ħamruniżi (pl)
Tas-Sikkina, Ta' Werwer
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code HMR
Dialing code 356
ISO 3166 code MT-18
Patron saint St. Cajetan
Immaculate Conception
St. Joseph
Day of festa Second Sunday of August
First Sunday of July
First Sunday of May
Website Official website

Ħamrun (Maltese: Il-Ħamrun) is a town in the Southern Region of Malta, with a population of 9,244 as of March 2014.

The townspeople are traditionally known as Tas-Sikkina (literally meaning 'of the knife' or 'those who carry a knife') or as Ta' Werwer (which literally means 'those who scare' or more colloquially, 'the scary ones'). This appellation could stem from the fact that a considerable number of Hamrunizi used to work as stevedores on the docks and thus carried a knife at all times. Another theory was that the community of Sicilians who settled here illegally in the 16th century danced a traditional dance which involved the wielding of small stilettos which they carried in their socks, waving them in the air and back to their sheaths.

San Ġorġ Preca (founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine) although born in Valletta, lived most of his life in Ħamrun. He is buried in a Chapel in Ħamrun. It is the home town of former Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and of Presidents Anton Buttigieg and Guido de Marco. The founder of the Malta Workers' Union (UHM), Salvino Spiteri, was born and lived here.

Hamrun gave birth to several important artists and men of letters. Notable persons from Ħamrun are the actor and lyrical singer Oreste Kirkop who is remembered mostly for his role in The Vagabond King, and Maltese poet and theatre director Mario Azzopardi (born in 1944), who has a strong reputation for introducing new, radical poetry in Malta in the Sixties and who became the artistic director of the Malta Drama Centre (est. 1979). Josephine Zammit Cordina is a well-known actress and TV personality. She is also associated with Australia being the presenter of the Radio Programme "Boomerang" and TV programme "Waltzing Matilda" . She was honoured by the Maltese Government (Gieh Ir-Republika) and the Australian Government (Honorary Member of the Order of Australia) . Joe Zammit Cordina (Josephine's brother in-law) was also a well-known actor and TV personality . He took part in a number of International Films in minor character roles . The Airport scene in "Midnight Express" is well remembered. He was also Mayor of Hamrun.


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Wikipedia

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