When I was a little boy it used to be that May was dedicated to Our Lady, mother of Jesus, and so Mother's Day was a fitting climax for the month. Perhaps times have changed, or I just grew older. Some people could go as far as believing that May will now also be remembered for Malta's accession to the EU. Somehow, I think that for better or for worse the Eurovision Song Contest will be the topic on most people's minds unless something more spectacular occurs this month.

As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any comments or questions about anything you see (or would like to see) on aboutmalta.com. Your feedback warms our hearts, especially when it comes in the form of a passionate message about something you think we should be doing differently.

Toni Sant
Consulting Editor, aboutmalta.com

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1. Last Month's Daily News from MaltaMedia
2. Top Picks:
     a. Mother's Day E-Cards
     b. Malta at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest
3. This Month in Maltese History
4. What's On This Month

01 Mother of abandoned newborn found
02 Three public transport projects unveiled
03 Judge appeals from two-year jail sentence
04 November sees increase in gainfully-occupied
05 Five arrested after drugs find; man found dead
06 Christ's passion marked on Good Friday
07 Pro-life group pushes anti-abortion campaign
08 Mother allowed to visit abandoned baby
09 Maltapost introduces new postcodes
10 No one injured in explosion at MultiGas
11 Two men die tragically, another found dead
12 Controlled access to Valletta starts in May
13 Guarantees wanted on journalist's deportation
14 Over 90% of Mater Dei handed over to Government
15 Valletta's World Heritage status 'in the balance'
16 Malta-Germany agreement on waste exploitation
17 Two workers die as roof in Ħamrun collapses
18 Budget 2008 public consultation to start soon
19 Qormi man dies after falling four storeys
20 Blessed's blood as relic for canonisation
21 Police take action on illegal hunting and trapping
22 Nearly 30% of Maltese citizens are smokers
23 SmartCity Malta founding agreement signed
24 No official word from Malta on Yeltsin's death
25 Just under 29,000 ecstasy pills seized in Qawra
26 Sonny Portelli is MCESD's new Chairman
27 Large amounts of heroin, cocaine seized
28 Suspected meningitis cases at Attard school
29 Newly-refurbished flatlets at Hal Far Open Centre
30 Customs seize contraband alcohol and tobacco

Read and/or listen to the latest daily news from MaltaMedia.com.

a. Mother's Day E-Cards

The MaltaMedia Online Network, of which aboutmalta.com is an integral part, is once again offering free Mother's Day e-cards designed by Maltese artists Gattaldo, Francis Camilleri and Paul Mizzi. These e-cards make for a truly unique greeting on Mother's Day, which this year is celebrated on Sunday the 13th of May.
 

b. Malta at the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest

Undoubtedly one of the most active websites this month, EurovisionMalta.com features information about Malta's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest since 1971. Naturally, this year Olivia Lewis gets full coverage as we get closer to the qualifying semifinal round on Thursday 10th of May in Helsinki. The final contest will be held the following Saturday, 12th of May 2007.

30 YEARS AGO (26 May 1977)
The bells of St Paul's Shipwrecked Church in Valletta, some of which are over 200 years old, are lowered from the belfry to be replaced by a new set cast in Italy.

20 YEARS AGO (11 May 1987)
The Nationalist Party wins the 1987 general elections by a majority of votes, 119,721 against 114,937 polled by the Malta Labour Party.

10 YEARS AGO (27 May 1997 )
A long-lost Madonna of the Knights of Malta icon is found in an Orthodox monastery in the former Yugoslavia.

FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
6 May 1949: Ninette Micallef, Actress/Teacher
18 May 1949: Vanni Pule, Magician/Entertainer
21 May 1961: Ray Mercieca, Singer with The Characters and The Rifffs
25 May 1933: Joe Micallef Stafrace, Lawyer/Politician

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
10 May 1998: Oreste Kirkop, Tenor, dies at 75
13 May 1987: Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi, Founder "Dar tal-Providenza", dies at 77
19 May 1967: Frenc Mercieca (Frenc ta'l-Gharb), Faith Healer, dies at 75
25 May 1922: Karmni Grima, Saintly Woman associated with Ta' Pinu, dies at 84

See aboutmalta.com's daily full list of birthdays, deaths, and events in Maltese history.

Today in Maltese History is produced exclusively for aboutmalta.com by Mario Axiaq.

1 - 14 May 2007
Besieged
An exhibition of 3D structures and paintings, based on Graham Woodall's first hand observations and drawings around Malta at St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, Valletta.

5 - 6 May 2007
Earth Garden and Spring Fair
The best local talent in traditional and world music, blends with art, drama and film to create an exquisite atmosphere, to promote environmental awareness at the National Park in Ta' Qali.

10 + 12 May 2007
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
The annual song contest organized by the European Broadcasting Union is in its 52nd year. Malta's entry at this year's edition in Finland is sung by Olivia Lewis.

23 - 27 May 2007
Razzett tal-Hbiberija Swimathon Challenge
Razzett tal-Hbiberija holds the 6th edition of the Swimathon Challenge at its indoor pool in Marsascala. All proceeds from this event are in aid of Razzett tal-Hbiberija's disability programmes.

View aboutmalta.com's full calendar for this month's events in Malta and Gozo, or to submit a future event to our calendar.