Many people who are not well versed with our country would immediately enquire as to the connotation of either The Maltese Falcon, or the well known confectionery item; Maltesers.
The Maltese Falcon, which is truly a cinematographic classic from 1941 casting Humphrey Bogart and directed by the legendry John Huston, has no connotation with our nation. It is only a plot revolving around a statuette which went by this synonimous name.
The confectionery item Maltesers is also not connected to the Maltese nation. Its derivated name (since launch in 1936) is due to the fact that these sweets are made from malted milk.
However with respect to the falcon, one needs to mention part of our history which says that when the Order of the Knights Hospitaliers of Jerusalem and of Rhodes, came to Malta under Papl decreet in 1535 under the rule of the then Grand Master Jean Villers de l'Isle Adam, they established themselves in the then capital city of Mdina, later replaced as a capital city by the more modern Valletta in 1568 after the latter was built by the heroic Grand Master Jean de la Vallette. In 1936 however, l'Isle Adam noted that the peninsula of St Angelo was very much suited for defending invadors and opted to fortify it further.
As part of the deal with the Maltese, a perpetual emphytheusis (ground rent) was agreed for the cost of one Falcon per annum.
Many people who are not well versed with our country would immediately enquire as to the connotation of either The Maltese Falcon, or the well known confectionery item; Maltesers.
The Maltese Falcon, which is truly a cinematographic classic from 1941 casting Humphrey Bogart and directed by the legendry John Huston, has no connotation with our nation. It is only a plot revolving around a statuette which went by this synonimous name.
The confectionery item Maltesers is also not connected to the Maltese nation. Its derivated name (since launch in 1936) is due to the fact that these sweets are made from malted milk.
However with respect to the falcon, one needs to mention part of our history which says that when the Order of the Knights Hospitaliers of Jerusalem and of Rhodes, came to Malta under Papl decreet in 1535 under the rule of the then Grand Master Jean Villers de l'Isle Adam, they established themselves in the then capital city of Mdina, later replaced as a capital city by the more modern Valletta in 1568 after the latter was built by the heroic Grand Master Jean de la Vallette. In 1936 however, l'Isle Adam noted that the peninsula of St Angelo was very much suited for defending invadors and opted to fortify it further.
As part of the deal with the Maltese, a perpetual emphytheusis (ground rent) was agreed for the cost of one Falcon per annum.