tarxien

The etymology of the village may be a corruption of Tirix, meaning a large stone, similar to those used for the village's noted temples.[https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090210/local/call-to-preserve-ancient-cemetery-on-hospital-site.244297 Times of Malta] The village motto is Tyrii Genure Coloni ("The Phoenicians created me").

Tarxien's population stood at 7,724 villagers in December 2008, which increased to 8,583 by March 2014. When the summer comes, the heat drives most of the citizens of Ħal Tarxien to the seaside villages of Malta, often bringing down the population of the village to about two-thirds of what it is during the colder months.

Colors=

id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9)

id:darkgrey value:gray(0.8)

id:sfondo value:rgb(1,1,1)

id:barra value:rgb(0.6,0.7,0.8)

ImageSize = width:455 height:303

PlotArea = left:50 bottom:50 top:30 right:30

DateFormat = x.y

Period = from:0 till:8500

TimeAxis = orientation:vertical

AlignBars = justify

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:1000 start:0

ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:200 start:0

BackgroundColors = canvas:sfondo

BarData=

bar:1901 text:1901

bar:1911 text:1911

bar:1921 text:1921

bar:1931 text:1931

bar:1948 text:1948

bar:1957 text:1957

bar:1967 text:1967

bar:1985 text:1985

bar:1995 text:1995

bar:2005 text:2005

bar:2011 text:2011

PlotData=

color:barra width:20 align:left

bar:1901 from: 0 till:2065

bar:1911 from: 0 till:2820

bar:1921 from: 0 till:2876

bar:1931 from: 0 till:3247

bar:1948 from: 0 till:4607

bar:1957 from: 0 till:7706

bar:1967 from: 0 till:7989

bar:1985 from: 0 till:7016

bar:1995 from: 0 till:7412

bar:2005 from: 0 till:7597

bar:2011 from: 0 till:8380

PlotData=

bar:1901 at:2065 fontsize:XS text: 2065 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1911 at:2820 fontsize:XS text: 2820 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1921 at:2876 fontsize:XS text: 2876 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1931 at:3247 fontsize:XS text: 3247 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1948 at:4607 fontsize:XS text: 4607 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1957 at:7706 fontsize:XS text: 7706 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1967 at:7989 fontsize:XS text: 7989 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1985 at:7016 fontsize:XS text: 7016 shift:(-8,5)

bar:1995 at:7412 fontsize:XS text: 7412 shift:(-8,5)

bar:2005 at:7597 fontsize:XS text: 7597 shift:(-8,5)

bar:2011 at:8380 fontsize:XS text: 8380 shift:(-8,5)

TextData=

fontsize:S pos:(20,20)

text:Census data

{{main|Tarxien Temples}}

The Tarxien Temples consist of three separate, but attached, temple structures. The oldest temple here is said to date back to about 3600 BCE. The temples feature various statues and reliefs of animals, including goats (for which Malta is noted) and pigs. Most notable of the statues found in the Temples are about 2.5 m in height, and are said to represent a sort of Mother Goddess. There are several of these statues scattered around the various temples, and are thought to represent fertility. There was also one of three small baked clay figurines in the form of what is said to be a priest that was found here.

The parish church of Ħal Tarxien is dedicated to the Annunciation of Our Lady, hence the Tarxinizi (the people of Ħal Tarxien) consider the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly at Her Annunciation as the Patron and Protector of their town and its whole population. The church was elevated to the status of parish in 1592, making it one of the oldest parishes of Malta. A key part of Ħal Tarxien culture is the feast of the Annunciation, whose feast is celebrated in late May or first Sunday of June. It is celebrated with religious celebrations and liturgical services at the parish church, and publicly with street decorations, band marches in the village streets and large aerial and ground firework displays.

File:Tarxien street 20100305-1.JPG

The second largest church in town is dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ better known by the locals as Ta' l-Erwieħ ({{IPA|mt|tɐ lɛrˈwɪːħ}}). The word means "of the souls" and it is used due to the old cemetery that surrounds the church. This church is right next to the renowned Tarxien Neolithic Temples and is visited by many tourists as many of the prehistoric remains were also found in the mentioned cemetery.

There are two other small chapels in Ħal Tarxien. These are dedicated to St. Bartholomew and St. Mary respectively.

There is also another chapel which is housed in the convent of the Sisters of Charity. This is dedicated to 'Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception'. The same congregation have a school.

There is also another church dedicated to St. Nicholas of Tolentino and a convent which belongs to the Augustinian Friars.

The Ħal Tarxien local council members are:

• Joseph Abela Galea (Mayor, PL)
• Darlene Vella (Vice Mayor, PL)
• Dasier D'Amato (PL)
• Neil Portelli (PL)
• Nicole Farrugia (PL)
• Anabelle Marmara (PN)
• Glenn Gerald Urry (PN)

There are two band clubs in Ħal Tarxien. These are the "Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata" and the "Ghaqda Mużikali Madonna tad-Duttrina", with same clubs seeing their beginnings in 1862 and 1997 respectively. The main aims of these clubs are to promote the music culture amongst the locals of Ħal Tarxien and to co-organise the external festivities of their respective feasts. "Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata" organises the titular feast of the Annunciation of Our Lady held annually during the last week of May/first week of June, whilst the "Ghaqda Muzikali Madonna tad-Duttrina" organises the secondary feast of the village, that of Our lady of Christian Doctrine held annually in the third week of July.

• The Annunciation Band Club (L-Għaqda Mużikali Marija Annunzjata)

• Our lady of Christian Doctrine Band Club(Ghaqda Muzikali Madonna Tad-Duttrina)

• Ghaqda tan-nar San Gabriel
• Sezzjoni Nar Madonna Tad-Duttrina (p/o Ghaqda Muzikali Madonna tad-Duttrina)

• Former Prime Minister of Malta Dominic Mintoff lived in Ħal Tarxien and died at his residence there on 20 August 2012.
• Former Minister Magistrate Dr. Joseph Cassar.
• Former Speaker of the House of the Representatives and Ambassador of Malta to the Vatican, Chev. Dr. Jimmy Farrugia lived at Ħal Tarxien until his death in 2007.
• Chev. Raffaele Bonnici Calì, painter, restorer and local historian lived in Ħal Tarxien until his death in 2002.
• Thea Garrett, singer. She represented Malta at Eurovision Song Contest 2010.
• Melvin J. Gouder, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon with special interest in Diabetic eye disease and vitreoretinal surgeon. Author of the book "The Retina, A Guide to Self Sssessment."

• {{flagicon|ITA}} Ovindoli, Italy
• {{flagicon|BUL}} Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Saint-Élix-le-Château, France

File:Malta Hal Tarxien BW 2011-10-04 12-59-04.JPG|Reconstructed entrance to the temple complex

File:Malta Hal Tarxien BW 2011-10-04 12-42-08.JPG|Magna Mater in the Ħal Tarxien Temple

File:Malta Hal Tarxien BW 2011-10-04 12-41-17.JPG|A relief showing goats and rams

• Misraħ ir-Repubblika (Republic Square)
• Misraħ is-Suq (Market Square)
• Triq Birżebbuġa (Birzebbuga Road)
• Triq Brittanika (Britannic Street)
• Triq Ħal Tarxien (Tarxien Road)
• Triq id-Dejma (Dejma Street)
• Triq il-Kbira (Main Street)
• Triq il-Palma (Palm Street)
• Triq Paola (Paola Road)
• Triq San Anard (St Leonard Road)
• Triq Santa Marija (St Mary Street)
• Triq Tal-Barrani (Outer Road)
• Triq il-Knisja (Church Street)
• Triq iż-Żejtun (Żejtun Road)
• Triq Marju Schembri (Mario Schembri Street)

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20030409231636/http://www.tarxien.gov.mt/ Tarxien Local Council]
• [http://www.guidetomalta.net/tarxien_temples.htm The Tarxien Temples] - Article from Grip magazine (Maltese publication)

{{malta-LocalCouncils}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Towns in Malta

Category:Local councils of Malta