Żabbar
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Żabbar is the fifth largest town in Malta, with a population of just over 18,000 (est. 2004). Originally a part of Zejtun, Żabbar was granted the title of Citta Hompesch by the last of the Grandmasters of the Knights of St. John to reign in Malta, Ferdinand von Hompesch. The Grandmaster gave his surname to the city, which is still known (in honoriam) as Citta Hompesch.
The city is very devout, particularly to Our Lady of Graces, to whom the city Sanctuary is dedicated. A vast number of paintings and other artefacts can be found in the village church museum, most of which have 'VFGA' in some way or other imprinted on them. This is the Latin abbreviation for 'Votum Fecit et Gratia Acceptit', meaning that a 'miracle' had been granted to the people after due intercession by the Madonna tal-Grazzja (Our Lady of Graces). These paintings are one of the largest votive paintings called Ex-Votos collection, about marine subjects and give large detail about ships of the Knights of Malta era. The Mattia Preti painting, found in the town's museum, is a particularly beautiful and invaluable painting.
The name of the city derives (probably) from the Maltese word 'inżabbar', the process of grooming trees, cutting off untidy and diseased branches. Indeed, a number of families who specialised in 'żbir', this process, are known to have lived in the vicinity of this village during the Middle Ages.
After the French occupation of Malta, the Maltese populace in general soon became wary of their rulers and couped, deposing them. A memorable battle took place in front of the Żabbar Sanctuary. To this day, French-era cannonballs are to be seen in household walls in the city's older parts and some are also in the church museum after being retrieved from the old church dome.
More recently, on October 14, 1975 Vulcan B. 2, XM645 of No.9 Squadron RAF Wadington, the last of the great 'Graces' came over Żabbar, when an Avro Vulcan (a military aircraft) exploded over the village with many parts of it falling on the school and one wing full of fuel fell in Sanctuary Street, the main street of the village. Fortunately the children were having their break at that time and no one was in the school (at that time the pupils went home to have their break and then returned to school). The whole accident, which involved other parts of the city, due to the violent explosion, claimed just one victim, who unluckily was hit by an electricity cable which was torn down by the falling aircraft wing. Various items (including the aircraft an undercarriage) can be seen at the city museum.
Nowadays, Żabbar is a very prosperous town, with a number of small- to medium-sized businesses opening to cater for the city's ever-increasing needs.
Amongst the famous personalities which emerged from the village is the former President Miss Agatha Barbara,Dr. Frans Chetcuti an education officer and Kenneth Cremona a world famous goalkeeper sensation who debutised for Valletta F.C at the tender age of 12.He began playing national football at 13 years.
Żabbar is famous for its village feast on the first Sunday after the 8th September, which features a motorcycles and bicycle pilgrimage each starting from Mosta and Rabat respectively. This is done because Our Lady Of Graces is the patron of cyclists. Strong competition exists between the village's two band clubs, locally known as the Societa' Filarmonica Maria Mater Gratiæ (the Blues) and the Għaqda Madonna Tal-Grazzja Banda San Mikiel (the Greens).
Due to its ever increasing population (which has more than doubled over the past two decades), a new pastoral zone, known as St. Andrew's has developed at Żabbar. Moreover, its outlying coastal hamlet, Xgħajra, which only 30 years ago had less than 150 residents, now has a population which is close to 1,000 and it has been hived off Żabbar and become a local council in itself. Marsaskala, a bustling seaside town, to the south of Żabbar and formerly a fishing village, once also formed part of Żabbar.
Żabbar's main football team is St. Patrick's FC.
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