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Not even the rain could put out the Festival of Lights in St. Lucia!

Posted by CaribShout on December 19, 2009 at 2:30pm

Traditional dancing with a modern twist! Music rang out from a beach party at Vigie. A get together was well underway opposite the Vigie Playing Field. Nashville Palace was swinging with country lovers. And yet the combined number of participants didn’t beat the crowd that gathered at the Derek Walcott Square on December 12. St Lucians came out in large numbers, braving the inclement weather, decked out with umbrellas and sweaters to enjoy the annual Festival of Lights held to celebrate National Day on December 13. As the name suggests, the focus is on cultural presentations using the visual imagery of light. This year’s theme was “Illuminating our achievements—Our Vision.” True to the theme, little ones ran around gleefully, playing with their recently acquired light-up trinkets as the Cecilian Rays shared their angelic voices with appreciative onlookers. Deputy town clerk, Vaughn Louis-Fernand wished St Lucians Merry Christmas and commended the crowd for filling the Derek Walcott Square. He reminded patrons that the Castries City Council is more than “a garbage collection facility” and told of the different departments responsible for the care of the city. Not too long ago, city constables from the Castries City Council foiled a would be robber’s escape after stealing a British visitor’s handbag. “We are the only superheroes we need. We are the threat so the solution lies with us,” said Louis-Fernand.

The Helen Folk Dancers always make for great entertainment. Senator Gaspar Charlemagne, minister in the ministry of education and culture, praised organizers for this year’s festival, the Cultural Development Foundation and the Castries City Council, saying the arrangement of the square, along with the turnout, ensures this event was a resounding success. Castries Central MP Richard Frederick also delivered remarks commending organizers and St Lucians for their support of the festival. Emerson Nurse and Friends, Culture Flames, AVAD Dance group, Helen Folk Dancers, Cecilian Rays, Llewellyn Gill, Hubert “Breeze” Fevriere and Mamai La Caye played an important part of the program along with Ziggy, Blaze, Platinum George and Lightening Stars Dance Troupe. The performances were followed by a spectacular light display. The much anticipated lantern parade caught the eye of many. In the Junior category, Yanica Bert captured top spot with “Tessoh ek Kanawi.” There was only one participant in the National Junior category, Amy and Shania portrayed “Tribute to Virgie.” Peter St Pierre and Michael Medar were winners in the senior category, with “C’est Tradicion Noel” and “Bank of St Lucia” respectively. It was a night of fun despite the weather. Many may not know the history of the island’s namesake. Saint Lucy, also known as Saint Lucia, (283 – 304) was a wealthy young Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day in the West is 13 December, by the unreformed Julian calendar the longest night of the year; with a name derived from lux, lucis “light,” she is the Patron Saint of the blind.

Their dance moves made up for those stormy expressions! Her hagiography tells us that Lucy was a Christian during the Diocletian persecution. She consecrated her virginity to God, refused to marry a pagan, and had her dowry distributed to the poor. Her would-be husband denounced her as a Christian to the governor of Syracuse, Sicily. Miraculously, unable to move her or burn her, the guards took out her eyes with a fork.
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Tags: caribbean, caribshout, lucia, st

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