The Anglican Thanks-giving Bazaar is among the new public events to be hosted in Saint Lucia as COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on mass events have been lifted.
The whole day bazaar will be held on Monday, October 3rd from 10.00 a.m. at the Anglican Church grounds on Holy Trinity Church Road under the theme “Tout moun annou wemecier Bon Dieux (Everybody, Let’s Give Thanks to God)”.
The Anglican bazaar is well-known for the sale of agricultural produce, its thanksgiving breakfast, signature Saint Lucian treats and sumptuous lunch offerings. The bazaar is the principal fundraiser for the Anglican community and funds are used to undertake general upkeep, maintenance and overall mission of the church.
The proceeds from this harvest sale go towards charitable causes such as feeding the poor, food hampers for shut-ins and senior citizens, and assistance with school uniforms for children in need. While the bazaar activities are rooted in the Anglican thanksgiving traditions, this year’s celebrations will be infused with live performances from a folk band, old-fashioned games and modern entertainment such as karaoke and fashion parades.
Special arrangements have been made for children with the provision of a children’s playground. The harvest celebrations date back to 1932 in the British colony of St. Lucia, when a Proclamation was issued by the Acting Administrator His Honour Herbert John Pink, which stated that the day of Thanksgiving was to give thanks for a successful harvest.
Though the Proclamation decreed the observance of Thanksgiving by all churches and the wider population, the day has been maintained primarily by the Anglican Church and is normally observed on the first Monday in October which has remained as a national holiday.