The feast of St Mary has been a popular feast among the Maltese people. Traditionally St Mary is linked to the Santa Maria Convoy which brought much needed food supplies to the Maltese. This took place exactly in the 15^th August, 1943, during the peak of the Second World War.his feast is very popular in Malta especially where the village church has as its Titular St. Mary.

Since 1808 the village of Ghaxaq in the south east of Malta celebrated this feast, both the religious part and the secular part, with vigor and pomp.  The religious aspect was reflected in the fact that an artistic statue was made by a well known sculpture Mariano Gerada. This was financed by Gio Maria Farrugia (1763 – 1828) and costed 800 skud.

Of course an artistic plinth was also made. The Farrugia family tree is endorsed at St. Mary's Band Club.It is futile to stress how popular the feast was to the villagers. In those days they had their wine shop. They talked mostly about the feast, year in year out. One shop was called Ta’ Indri l-Mikk. People used to meet there and given the aspirations of the locals, this stop was the forerunner of the present band club. Indri himself, took it upon himself to organize the outside (secular) feast of St. Mary.  The square in front of the church was decorated with colourful bundings. The church’s facade was illuminated with hundreds of oil lamps. This was the work of the Gatt, Duca, Desira and Scicluna's families.

After a number of years these people’s demand for more professional work grew. In 1873 the people named above explored the possibility of moving from this shop to much bigger premises. Agreement was reached on buying a big house in the square known as Ta’ Bukkettuwa. After initial work was completed the club came to be known as Circolo La Stella.  This house served until 1910 when it was agreed to look for a new place big enough to hold all activities. Finally a big house was found at 70, St. Mary Street known as Ta’ Petistina. This was renovated and turned into a majestic edifice.