Sister cities of Għaxaq

Ħal Għaxaq (Maltese pronunciation: [aːʃaʔ]) is a village in the south of Malta, with a population of 4,509 people as of March 2011. It is mainly a residential area with a vast area used for agriculture still. The village's name may be derived from the Maltese word meaning delight, or it may be related to the noble family named Axiak (also spelt Axiaq or Asciak) which had feudal lands in the area in the fourteenth century. The village's main church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, popularly known in Maltese as Santa Marija (St.Mary) which is therefore the village's patron saint. Celebrations take place from the 30th to the 15th August annually. A secondary feast is celebrated on the week before the first Sunday of June. This is dedicated to St.Joseph, husband of Mary. During these feasts the village is decorated with highly artistic statues and colorful lights and banners.