Saint Lucia Flower and Creole Festivals
St. Lucia’s local culture and traditions are revealed through two flower festivals during the months of August and October. The feast of St. Rose de Lima is the festival of the La Rose Flower Society held in August while, the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is celebrated in October by the other flower society of Les Marguerite. Each year, the events are hosted by a number of selected communities throughout the island which include religious services, parades, a royal court, feasting and much dancing.
Traditionally, these two rival Flower Societies begin what is locally referred to as seances. These seances are essentially weekly meetings held by each group. At these meetings, there is one female singer or a Chantwelle of each Society who has the task of composing Belairs (tunes which are a blend of African and French expressions) which are sung in French Creole. In these songs, the Chantwelle and members give praise to their respective societies, while they lightheartedly disparage their rivals (the other Flower Society) in song and dance. The choruses of these songs are usually sung in unison to the accompaniment of saxophones, violins, the banjo, or any [traditional] musical instrument.
After attending a religious service, members of each Flower Society parade the streets of their community dressed up in imitations of Kings and Queens, prince and princesses, doctors, nurses, policemen and soldiers. These weekly seances culminate in the colourful festivals of the La Rose on August 30 and Les Marguerite on October 17 each year.
The month of October is also recognized as Creole Heritage Month and includes the celebration of International Creole Day or Jounen Kweyol Entenasyonnal. Culturally oriented visitors or those with a desire of experiencing St. Lucia’s traditional expressions, while doing everything in Creole, will find the month of October packed with cultural activities and excitement.
