RSSInterestingly, in the context of St.Lucia’s cultural traditions, there exist two societies, whose members are dedicated to the praising of their respective flowers.
Months of nightly singing practices called as the “Séances” precede the annual festival or Grande fete, an elaborate and colourful event full of pomp and pageantry.
The ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ preside over the festival and they are accompanied by their royal entourage of Dukes, Duchesses, Princes, Princesses, Soldiers, Policemen, Magistrates, Doctors, Nurses, the clerical hierarchy and supporters of the respective flowers. Strict protocol is observed at those nightly Séances. Every visitor or participating member should bow to the King and the Queen who are present with their court. Police and soldiers in uniform enforce regulations against any disorder. Offenders are taken before a magistrate for a mock trial and then fined.
The grand fete is celebrated on the feast day of the patron saint of each society. For the Roses, it is the feast of St.Rose of Lima on the 30th August. For the Marguerites it is that of St. Margaret Mary Alacocque on the 17th October. The ‘Grande fete’ is celebrated first with church services through out the island. The grand processions are carried over along the streets and the principal personages are magnificently attired.
The dignitaries and leading personalities attend a grand dinner in the evening. Late in the evening one can witness and participate in the colourful folk dances, the Quadrille, the Mappa or the Belair. The flower festival of St.Lucia is the musical extravaganza of the island!
Cecilia’s festival:
St.Lucia has a broad Roman Catholic Base and celebrates the special feast days of the saints.St.Ceicilia’s day is celebrated with all pomp and fanfare. St.Cecilia’s day is also referred to as the Feast of the Musicians in St.Lucia. This day is seen not only as the anniversary of her death but according to Catholic belief, her birthday into eternal life.
St.Lucia was not an ordinary saint. Late 5th century was a Roman noble who vowed her virginity to God. As a child, even after being married against her will to St.Valerian, she told him that an angel wished her to remain chaste. She was ordered to be burnt by Aimaclius the Perfect and amazingly she was not burnt; later she was beheaded.
Cecilia was buried along with their instrumental relics in a catacomb near Rome. She is now honored as the Patroness for musicians and the blind and many music societies have since been named in her honor. If children are born on 22nd November, they are named after her-‘Cecil’, if it is a boy and ‘Cecilia’ if it is a girl. The island’s musicians take the centre stage on the day. Festivities begin with church services and end with a grand concert by musicians. A free outdoor concert gives you the opportunity to sample live St.Lucian talent on parade- calypso, instrumental music; jazz, steel pan and tambour mele all gelled into a fine musi
