An exquisite La Marguerite Festival ‘Coronation’ and banquet, due to be held today (Saturday), kicks off the celebrations for this year’s Creole Heritage Month.
On Thursday, the Monsignor Patrick Anthony Folk Research Centre (FRC) disclosed plans for celebration of the festivity with the release of an itinerary of activities for the month.
FRC’s Executive Director Rhysea Joseph said the La Marguerite Festival will be the first event celebrated on the agenda. The celebrations begin with a ‘Coronation’ at the St Joseph’s the Worker Church, in Gros Islet, and then with a ‘grand ball’ scheduled for later that evening .
“We are encouraging all Saint Lucians to come out to celebrate our flower festivals in grand style,” Joseph told reporters
She recalled that the La Rose Festival display celebrated in August had taken centre stage, and similarly the La Marguerite celebrations “will highlight the activity in a way that is all-encompassing.”
On October 16 citizens are being requested to put on their cultural-fitness wear in celebration of another activity dubbed ‘Marche Pou Kilti’. The FRC head added: “We are encouraging all Saint Lucians, government ministries, youth, churches and members of the media to participate in this ‘Walk for Culture’.”
Said Joseph: “Why do we walk for culture? We walk for culture, because it promotes cultural creativity, good health, and it’s an opportunity for Saint Lucians to come together in a meaningful way during the month.”
Over the years, since its inception by the FRC, the annual ‘Jounen Kweyol’ festivity has gathered steam as the celebrations move across the island, with different communities getting an opportunity to host a full day of cultural events that involves local cuisine, dance and displays.
“On October 30th, the day that Saint Lucians normally look forward to we have the grand celebration of Jounen Kweyol in our host communities of Choiseul and Castries,” Joseph explained. “And …we are inviting you to patronize those communities on that day.”
Other activities planned for Creole Heritage Month, includes an event to highlight the playing of ‘folk instruments’.