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Ħamrun is a town in the Inner Harbour Region of Malta, with a population of 10,589 people (Nov 2005).

The villagers 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 presumably stems from the trouble-making image that the local
football club, Ħamrun Spartans, was known for[citation needed] or that a considerable number of Hamrunizi used to work as stevedores on the
docks and thus carried a knife at all times. The founder of the Malta Workers' Union (UHM), Salvino Spiteri, was born and lived here.

San Ġorġ Preca (founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine) although born in Valletta, lived all 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.

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).
Debie is really popular for the Debie awards and her huge collection of rare artifacts from all around the world including an exect replica of the hal
luqa monument. 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 ( 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 .

Another modern poet, Victor Fenech (b.1936), involved for many years as a drama critic, also hails from Hamrun. From the romantic school of
literature one should mention Rev. Frans Camilleri, also born in this town. Hamrun also gave birth to film director Mario Philip Azzopardi (born in
1950), who is not to be confused with Mario Azzopardi the poet and drama animator (also born in Hamrun in 1944). Mario Philip settled in Canada
and has many commercial film titles and TV serials to his credit. The other Mario Azzopardi is a well known poet and animator, accredited with
introducing new forms of literature to the island. (Visit www.marioazzopardi.com for more information, full cv, literary works, reviews, etc.). Hamrun
is also the home town of playwright [Oreste Calleja]http://orestecalleja.com (b.1946), an acclaimed author who wrote important new-genre plays in
the native language.

Due to the prominence of the St. Cajetan Parish Church, many residents carry the name of the patron saint, generally in Maltese or in Italian, such
as Gejtu Cuschieri, the football club president, and Gaetan Spiteri, a striker of the football team of the town.

Our Lady of Atocja Chapel is the oldest chapel in Ħamrun which was paid from the famous benefactor Maria Sefora. It was built in the early 17th
century by a merchant trader who brought the painting of the Madonna from Atocha in Spain. The people from Ħamrun refer to it as Tas-Samra.

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church is the Motherhouse of the Society of Christian Doctrine founded by Saint George Preca. In fact, he was
buried in the crypt of the Church. On a Wednesday, in Passiontide, a Procession of Christ the Redeemer walks through "Strada Rjali" (Ħamrun
Main Road). The Procession starts adjacent to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church and ends when the Statue of Jesus Christ is inside Saint
Cajetan Sanctuary. The procession is accompanied by band funeral marches and the 1st Ħamrun Scout Group.

The Chapel of Porto Salvo was built in 1736 and it was conceived as a village chapel. It is built in the Baroque Style. Today the chapel is used
mostly for the adoration of the Holy Eucharist. The local refer to the chapel as Ta' Santu Nuzzo.

Immaculate Conception Parish Church was built in the 1960s to cater for the large population of Ħamrun. In architectural terms the church has a
very plain and neat design. In 1973 it became the first parish to receive the Neocatechumenal Way, from where it spread to another 26 parishes in
the Maltese Islands. The Neocatechumenal Way is also present in St. Cajetan Parish. Together these two parishes have 13 'communities' with
around 450 members.

St. Francis of Assisi Church was built in the 1950s by the Franciscan Community to cater for the local community.

St. Gaetan Parish Church was built in the latter half of the 19th century. Originally it was intended to name the church for St. Joseph however
Bishop Gaetano Pace Forno wanted to name the church for his patron saint. The church is built in a Neo-Gothic style. Its interior was painted by
Emvin Cremona. The statue of Saint Cajetan was done by Carlo Darmanin.

The Patron Saints of Ħamrun are 'San Gejtanu', 'Kunċizzjoni' and San Ġuzepp. St Gaetan feast is celebrated on the first Sunday after August 7 and
the Immaculate Conception feast is celebrated in the first Sunday of July. The Parish Church of St. Gejtanu was designed by George Schinas.
Construction of the church was finished in 1875. The titular painting was done by Pietro Gagliardi in Rome. The statue of San Gejtanu is the work
of eminent Maltese sculptor Charles Darmanin and was completed in 1885.

There are 3 Town band clubs in Hamrun. St Gaetan's Band Club, St Joseph and the Immaculate Conception band, the only band in the
Immaculate Conception Parish. San Gejtanu's, or as it is also known "tat-Tamal" and St. Joseph's, or as it is also known "Tal-Miskina", hold
marathon marches "Marċ tal-brijju" on the day of the feast starting early in the morning and ending late in the afternoon. There is great rivalry
between the two band clubs, which makes for one of the most exciting feasts in Malta. The two band clubs are associated with two different
colours; red for San Gejtanu's Band Club and blue for St. Joseph's Band Club. Supporters of the band clubs surround their respective marching
band decked out in clothes and head bands and carrying flags of the same colour as that of their club. Hand-held fire works, especially noisy ones,
are set off along the parade route and supporters shower the bands and their supporters with streamers and confetti from balconies and roofs. At
times, the confetti look like a heavy snow storm. Little children run around playing with the mounds of paper that are left behind the marching
bands.

In the evening, local band clubs play on a band stand adjacent to the parish church. Locals and visitors walk back and forth along the main street
under colourful lights and banners. The streets are lined with statues of saints and angels. The procession leaves the church early in the evening
and winds its way around the city. The fiesta ends with a spectacular run up the stairs of the Parish Church. Volunteers carrying the statue of the
Patron Saint take a "girja" (run) up the stairs under the watchful eyes of parishioners, visitors and tourists. This traditional ending of the boisterous
local feast dates back to 1898. The run is usually accompanied by an equally spectacular and noisy fire works display and loud cheers and
clapping from the crowds.

Besides the feast of St. Cajetan, Hamrun celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Conception both on the first Sunday of July and on the 8th of
December with great fervour and delight. The titular statue of the Immaculate Conception is held with great esteem due to the admiration it drew
from the great pontiff Leo XIII who on seeing its magnificence bestowed on it the honour of serving as a tangible means for grace through the
distribution of an indulgence to whoever expresses devotion towards it.

The feast of the Immaculate Conception is quite different from that of St. Cajetan. Rather than focusing on the external more energetic and lively
side of the feast, it is a feast which is much more muted and the parish's only band club guarantees a total absence of rivalry.

Il-Hamrun - Malta

Notable residents

Churches

Feasts