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A different kind of boxing day! 1948 photo shows the National Lottery’s first draw in war torn Valletta
This was only just a few years after World War II ended.

Emma Galea

A photo uploaded by the National Archives of Valletta shows what Boxing Day activities looked like in 1948 Malta.

The photo was taken exactly 77 years ago today and shows the first draw of the National Lottery.

People can be seen gathered all around what was then referred to as Queen’s Square (now Republic Square) as they hope to win the lottery.

As can be observed from the photo, there seems to be a lot of rubble. Seeing as this photo was only taken just a few years after Malta became the most bombed country during World War II, it makes sense that there is still a lot of rubble that is yet to be cleared.

The National Lottery was specifically being held as a way for Maltese citizens to continue contributing to the financing of social services.

26th December 2025


Emma Galea
Written by
Emma Galea
Emma is a Gozitan writer who loves all things related to English literature and history. When not busy studying or writing you will either find her immersed in a fictional book or at the cinema trying to watch as many films as she possibly can!

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