La Marguerite celebrations kicked off with a heartwarming church service yesterday, followed by a lively parade and engaging presentations in Rodney Bay.
Events Saint Lucia (ESL) encouraged Saint Lucians and visitors alike on Tuesday to “join in as we honour the timeless beauty of La Marguerite in a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds, and heartfelt camaraderie.”
“Culture is the delicate thread that binds individuals into a community, and communities into a nation. It’s the shared melody in every heart, uniting us in a common narrative that echoes through the ages. Our culture is the legacy of our past, the celebration of our present, and the promise of a united future. It’s the beautiful language that speaks to our hearts, binding us together in an eternal embrace of belonging and unity.
As we adorn ourselves in hues of blue and purple we become part of a living tradition that blossoms with each note sung and every graceful dance step,” ESL said in a brief statement.
A Brief History
The La Marguerite flower festival pays tribute to Mary Marguerite of Alacocque and is celebrated on October 17 each year.
Some recorded accounts indicate that La Marguerite societies – like that of its rival, La Rose – have existed in the French Antilles for over two centuries although their origins remain uncertain. However, one school of thought suggests that the societies were founded during the early days of slavery and was practiced by the working class.
While many pluses have been attributed to both societies, including the funding of many churches, their extravagance, quarreling and rioting caused the Apostolic Administrator of Port-of-Spain with jurisdiction over Saint Lucia, Monsignor Ethelridge, to excommunicate them both from the church.
Ironically, today’s flower festivals focus heavily on Roman Catholicism, with each feast day beginning with a church service where prayers are made on behalf of the youth, sick and elderly, nation, church and government.