Saint Julian's (Maltese: San ?iljan) is a town in the Eastern Region of Malta. As of 2020, its registered number of inhabitants stands at 13,792.[2] It is situated along the coast, north of the country's capital, Valletta. It is known for tourism-oriented businesses, such as hotels, restaurants and nightclubs which are centred mainly in an area known as Paceville.Etymology, feast and traditionsSee also: Julian the HospitallerThe town is named after its patron saint Saint Julian who is widely known as Julian the Hospitaller and Julian the Poor whereby he is the patron saint of hunters.[3] Before the reform of the Calendar of Saints, the memorial to St Julian was on 27 January. Nowadays, it is celebrated on 12 February,[4] although in Malta an additional feast, in the spirit of the many summer feasts around the island, is celebrated on the last Sunday of August.[5]A very particular competition connected with the town's feast is known as ?ostra.[6] This traditional competitive feat involves participants climbing and running as far as possible along a sloping greased pole which is suspended above the sea. The winner is the person to grab one of three flags dangling from the end of the pole, each flag representing a certain prize.[7]Another tradition connected with the feast of this locality is 'Musketterija. Starting in 1982, this tradition sees Hunters firing blank cartridges filled with black powder from the roof of the parish church as the statue of the patron saint is brought out of the church. Many say this tradition is in line with the history of the locality which used to be hunting grounds for the Knights of Malta.[7]Location and areasThe town is located on Malta's east coast, north of Valletta and the neighbouing town of Sliema. It is subdivided into informal districts which are Paceville, Ta' ?iorni, Tal-G?oqod and St Andrew's, as well as the regions surrounding St George's Bay, Spinola Bay, Balluta Bay, and Il-Qaliet cliffs. St Julian's is a tourist destination, especially popular during the summer months.Portomaso Tower with Spinola Bay in the foregroundMalta's tallest building, the still-under construction Mercury Tower, is located in St. Julian's, along with the island's previous tallest building, the Portomaso Business Tower.[8]
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