Castries Lions Club: Bon Fete La Woz Tout Sent Lisyen

Saint Lucia celebrates the feast of St Rose de Lima

Saint. 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 on August 30. The structured hierarchy consists of a king and queen as head of the society and other dignitaries patterned on the socio-economic structure of colonial society. Thus, after the king and queen come princes and princesses, and a number of other pseudo-legal, military and professional personnel, including judges, policemen, soldiers and nurses

The festival begins with what is locally referred to as séances. These séances are weekly meetings held by the group to prepare for the feast.The central figure in the séance is the "chantwelle" or lead singer who sustains the spirit and tenor of the evening's entertainment. The chantwelles are mostly female, but there are sometimes a number of male shantwels. The chantwelle leads the song with the other members of the group acting as chorus in a call-and-response pattern. The tunes which are a blend of African and French expressions 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 Instrumentation which includes any combination of violin, banjo, quatro, guitar, shak-shak, baha, drums,and saxophones.

Strict protocol is observed at those nightly séances with visitors or participating members, upon entering, bowing to the King and Queen present with their court . Soldiers and police in uniform enforce regulations against any disorder or breaches of protocol, or what are considered misdemeanors. Offenders are taken before a magistrate for a mock trial and then fined.

These weekly seances culminate in the colourful festivals of the La Rose on August 30. Presiding over the annual festivals are the "King" and "Queen" who are accompanied by their royal entourage of Princes, Princesses, Soldiers, Policemen, Doctors, Nurses, the clerical hierarchy, and supporters of the respective flowers. The grand fête is celebrated, first with church service throughout the island and after with processions throughout the streets, the principal personages magnificently attired. In the evening there is a sumptuous banquet to which dignitaries and leading personalities are invited. The rest of the evening is spent dancing. One can then witness and participate in some of the colorful folk dances, among which are the Quadrille, the Mappa and the Belair.