As we count down the final hours of 2025 and get ready to welcome a brand new year, the National Archives of Malta has taken us on a trip back in time, all the way to the dawn of 1951.

The striking image shared is a cartoon by Maltese artist Alfred Gerada (1895–1968), capturing what it felt like to stand on the edge of a new year 75 years ago. Unlike the glitter and optimism we often associate with New Year celebrations today, Gerada’s illustration reflects a nation stepping into the unknown, caught between tentative hope and deep uncertainty.

Malta in the early 1950s was still finding its footing after the devastation of war. The country was facing rapid population growth, major social and technological change, and political instability following the recent death of the Prime Minister. On a global scale, the Cold War was beginning to cast its long shadow, and Malta, strategically positioned in the Mediterranean, felt that tension acutely.

At the centre of the cartoon, an angel hovers over the Maltese Islands, clutching a briefcase emblazoned with a question mark. The symbol speaks of the unanswered questions facing the nation at the time: What would the future hold? What path would Malta take in a rapidly changing world?

As we stand on the brink of another new year ourselves, the image is a timely reminder that uncertainty has always been part of the transition into what comes next. Yet, history also shows how far Malta has come, navigating challenge after challenge with resilience, adaptability, and hope.

What are your hopes for the new year?