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St.
Lucia Calendar of Events
The St. Lucian year is marked by a multitude of festive
events, from Carnival and Calypso celebrations to world-class
tennis tournaments and weekly street parties. For music
lovers, the best bet of the year is the annual St. Lucia
Jazz Festival, a four-day extravaganza, May 8th-11th,
attracting some of the world's very best performers to
the island.
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January
- New
Year's Day
- Asou
Skwe
- Masquerade
- Toes/Papa
Djab
- Cricket
Season
- Calypso
Calypso
tents are a major attraction during Calypso
season. Each tent is comprised of a number
of calypsonians who organize a series
of shows leading up to the main calypso
competition, to introduce the public to
their songs for the current year. There
is a high level of audience participation
as a commentary on the people's acceptance
or rejection of the talent. Opening of
Cricket season marks increased inter-community
activity.
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February
Independence Day
Independence for St. Lucia was achieved
in 1979. Historical symbolism is treated
with great pride by St. Lucia in conjuction
with:
- Anniversary
- Calypso
- Carnival
- Ash
Wednesday
- Lent/Kawem
- Kite
Flying
The highlight of February is preparations
for Carnival, a gala event with activities
held throughout St. Lucia. Various camps
are set up for the production of costumes
for the many shows and street parades.
Under the guidance of designers and band
leaders, individual and group costumes
are created for band members. Calypso
tents are now in full swing and contenders
for the "King" and "Queen"
crowns are now rising. Short fun filled
month.
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March
Calmer tropical weather period supports
many marine based activities.
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April
- All
Fools' Day
- Lent
- Holy
Week
- Good
Friday
- Easter
Sunday
The days of Holy Week are the most solemn
on the St. Lucian calendar. The dominant
Catholic traditions are most evident at
this time, particularly on Good Friday,
a day of church services and restraint
from pleasurable things. Highlights of
the meal on this day is "Akwa"
or fish cake, and pain d' espices (penepis),
a thin oval biscuit. Easter Sunday resembles
Christmas Day with its church services,
gift-giving and fetes. End of lent season
and season of abstinenence celebrated
with dates and banquets after forty day
abstinence.
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May
- Labour
Day
- Mother's
Day
- African
Liberation Day
- Whitsuntide
- Aqua
Action
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June
- Father's
Day
- Fisherman's
Feast/Fet Peche
- Corpus
Christi
- St.
Lucia Squash Open
The Fisherman's Feast begins with a church
service, followed by the blessing of gaily
decorated boats and boat sheds on the
beaches. Feasting and merrymaking lasts
the whole day into the early morning hours.
St. Lucia Squash Open: World renown squash
players get together with amateurs for
a casual but very competitve event.
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July-Sept.
Kids' Safari SummerThis event brings together
local and visiting children, between the
ages of 5 to 18, to learn about St. Lucia's
environment, nature, folk traditions and
history. Activities include hiking, canoeing,
craft making, birdwatching and photography.
Traditional Holiday period for students:
- round-island
field trips
- Kid's
Safari Summer
- various
community day celebrations
- Fisherman's
feast
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August
- Emancipation
Day
- Fet
Wivandez/Market Vendors Feast
- Fet
La Woz/The Rose Festival
- Major
Flower Festival
The market vendors celebrate their feast
day with a religious service, followed
by a festival of food, song, dance and
general merriment in the island's various
markets. The Castries market is usually
the main center of activities. The Rose
Festival honours the rose with great pomp
and ceremony, including a royal kingdom
complete with king, queen, dignitaries
and loyal subjects. There is a grand party
at which no expense is spared to make
the day successful. The Market Vendor's
Feast brings out vivid cultural expressions.
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October
- Thanksgiving
Day
- Jounen
Kweyol
- Entennasyonal
(International Creole Day)
- Bill
Fish Tournament
On International Creole Day, St. Lucians
join hands with kweyol-speaking people
around the world in solidarity and in
celebration of their exciting common culture.
Special activities include preparation
of traditional foods, exhibitions of traditional
items and folklore.
Jounen Kweyol celebrated in different
communites where kweyol speaking people
congreate to enjoy traditional foods,
folklore, and other traditional exhibitions.
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November
- All
Saints Day
- All
Souls Day (Fet Le Mo)
- Remembrance
Day
- St.
Cecilia's Day
- ARC
- major yacht event
- International
Food Fair
On All Souls Day, St. Lucians remember
their departed loved by keeping a vigil
lamp burning in their homes, beautifying
cemeteries, repainting tombs and laying
fresh flowers or wreaths on graves. Remembrance
Day honors those who fought in the two
World Wars with wreaths, ceremonial parades
and parties. Poppies and stickers are
sold to help aid families of ex-servicemen.
St. Cecilia's Day honors the patron saint
of music and musicians with a church service,
street music and sporting events for musicians.
At ARC, the major yacht event, boaters
can enjoy fine facilities available to
yachters.
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December
- National
Day
- National
Day Festivals
- Christmas
Day
- Masquerade
- Legends
Tournament
December in St. Lucia is a month-long
festival, revolving around National Day
celebrations and the Christmas season.
The focus on National Day is building
pride in the country with sporting, cultural,
religious, social, and commercial activities,
such as the Festival of Lights, featuring
a lantern-making competition and the decoration
of towns and villages with lights. Other
events include the National festival of
choirs, a festival of bands and a market
festival akin to the market vendors feast
day.
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St.
Lucia At A Glance
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Language:
English and local French patois
Government: Westminster-style parliamentary democracy
Capital: Castries
Size: 616.3 sq km (238 sq miles)
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Climate: Tropical, moderated by northeast trade
winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season
from May to August
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Driving: Driving is on the left and the use of
seat belts is compulsory. Observe the speed limits and
no parking zones.
Rentals: There are several reputable rental companies
on island. Cars, 4-wheel drive vehicles and scooters can
be booked in advance through your travel agent or at the
airports, hotels or car rental offices on island.
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