L-ewwel fabbrika tan-nar Santa Marija kienet ġiet meqruda bi splużjoni li ġrat nhar it-22 ta’ Mejju 1972, fejn ħalla ħajtu Ġanni Falzon, wieħed mill-pijunieri fil-ħidma tan-nar.

Fi żmien qasir , bdew il-pjani u preparazzjonijiet biex tinbena fabbrika ġdida u moderna. Instab post adatt magħruf bħala ‘Tal-Muddejn’ li kien 40 b’35 metru li nxtara mingħand Mattew Spiteri . Ix-xogħol beda f’Settembru tal-1972, ftit wara l-Festa ta’ dik is-sena. Kien hemm benefatturi numerużi li taw daqqa t’id bħas-sid ta’ barriera Anġlu Ellull li ta il-ġebel b’nofs prezz. Numru sabiħ ta’ voluntiera għenu attivament fil-bini tal-post taħt is-superviżjoni ta’ Ġeraldu Magro. Sa l-aħħar tal-1972, kienu diġa nbnew żewġ kmamar kbar u maħżen. Sal-festa tas-sena ta’ wara kien diġa beda jinħadem in-nar taħt is-superviżjoni ta’ Ġanni Spiteri.

Fl-10 ta’ Frar 1974, reġa ġara inċident fatali ieħor fejn għal darba oħra ħallew ħajjithom tliet persuni waqt li kienu jaħdmu n-nar. Dawn kienu Emanuel Aquilina, Martin Mallia u Jack Buġeja. Dan kien l-aktar żmien diffiċli għas-soċjeta’, meta l-ferħ li nbniet fabbrika ġdida inbidel f’niket u f-fażi emozzjonali.

Mingħajr qtugħ ta’ qalb u armati b’ħeġġa u kburija biex ikunu wieħed mill-aqwa gruppi tan-nar f’pajjiżna, kompla x-xogħol mingħajr waqfien biex iġibu l-fabbrika ta-nar tas-Soċjeta’ Santa Marija aktar moderna, tkun fl-aqwa standard fil-manifattura tan-nar tal-lum.

Wara l-festa tal-1974, statwa sabiħa tal-ġebel, tal-Assunta skolpita mill-president attwali tas-Soċjeta’ Martin Formosa, ġiet imwaqqfa fuq il-bieb prinċipali tal-kumpless tal-post tan-nar, biex isservi ta’ gwida u tipproteġi lil dawk li jiffrekwentaw il-fabbrika tan-nar Santa Marija.

     Fis-snin ta’ wara il-produzzjoni tan-nar reġgħet kibret gradwalment u b’xi xiri ta’ nar tal-art saret festa sodisfaċenti. Il-voluntiera kibru u nxtrat għalqa oħra biswit. Fiha kien hemm xi bini qadim li kien restawrat għal kundizzjoni oriġinali tiegħu u nbnew akta kmamar fuq barra bħal kċina, restroom, u doċċa u tojlit. Kien installat id-dawl u t-triq li tagħti għall-fabbrika twessgħet biex tkun tista tgħaddi xi fire engine jew ambulanza fil-każ ta’ inċident. Fi Frar tal-1992 il-permessi kienu trasferiti fuq Felix Zerafa u kien hemm progress sostanzjali.

Illum il-fabbrika tan-nar hija ta’ servizz għal festi oħra madwar Malta u għajnuna finanzjarja lis-soċjeta’ fil-bini tal-każin il-ġdid. Żvilupp ġdid ġara meta nxtraw pressa ta’ qisien u forom differenti, u giljottina biex jinqata il-kartun. L-aħħar żieda fl-apparat kienet il-magna tal-porvli. Illum il-fabbrika hija attrezzata b’kull ħaġa possibbli għal prevenzjoni tal-periklu u biex ikun hemm ambjent sigur kemm jista jkun.

 The first known Santa Maria Fireworks Factory was destroyed following an accident that occurred on the 22nd May 1972, in which John Falzon, a fireworks pioneer in Qrendi, lost his life. In a relatively short time, plans and preparations to reconstruct a new and more modern fireworks factory was being undertaken. A suitable location at a place known locally as 'Tal-Muddejn", measuring some 40 by 35 meter, was purchased from the late Matthew Spiteri, and work on the construction of a new building began in September 1972, shortly after the feast of Santa Maria. Numerous benefactors, amongst whom quarry owner Angelo Ellul provided building blocks at half their original cost, were  donated to our society. A good number of volunteers and society members also actively participated in the premises construction under the watchful supervision of Gerald Magro. By the end of 1972, two big rooms and a store were built, whereas by the feast day of the coming year some fireworks were already being manufactured therein, under the leadership of the late Joseph Spiteri.
       On the 10th February 1974 another terrible accident occurred at the fireworks factory once again when three of Santa Maria’s Fireworks enthusiasts, Emanuel Aquilina, Martin Mallia and Jack Bugeja lost their lives whilst manufacturing some fireworks. This was a most difficult time for the Society and the joy of building a new firework factory turned into a monotonous and emotional phase.                                                                   

Not losing heart and armed with sturdy will power and pride in placing our society amongst our country’s forerunners in pyrothecnic, work was later resumed at a sturdy pace, turning our society’s fireworks factory into a modern one, meeting today’s standards in pyrothecnic manufacture. Following the feast of 1974, a beautifully stone statue depicting Our Lady of the Assumption sculpted by the current Santa Maria president Martin Formosa, was placed over the entrance to the firework complex, serving to keep a watchful eye and protecting all those entering the Santa Maria Fireworks Factory.

     In the years that followed the production of fireworks began increasing gradually again and, added to some purchased ground and colour fireworks made a satisfactory feast. Volunteers increased and another field was purchased. In it there was an old building which was restored to its original condition and other rooms were constructed on the outskirts such as a restroom, kitchen and shower/toilet. Electricity was also installed at this time. The road leading to the factory was widened so any fire-engine or ambulance could pass easily in case of accidents. On February 1992 the permits were transferred to Felix Zerafaand work progressed steadfastly.
     Today the fireworks factory is of service to other feasts around Malta and Gozo and a good financial help for the society for its enormous project of the new club. A new development occurred when a press of different sizes and forms and a guiliottine, to cut cardboard, were bought. The latest addition is a gunpowder machine. Today the factory is equipped with every possible safety device for the prevention of danger to work in the safest environment possible..

All that appears on this website is the property of St. Mary’s Musical Society, Qrendi and cannot be reproduced or copied without the prior consent of the mentioned Society Committee.

Dak kollu li jidher f’dan is-sit elettroniku huwa propjeta’ tas-Soċjeta’ Mużikali Santa Marija, Qrendi u ma’ jistgħax jiġi riprodott jew ikkupjat mingħajr il-kunsens min qabel tal-Kumitat ta’ l-istess Soċjeta’