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Saint Lucia
Calendar Of
Events
& Public Holidays |
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2007 Calendar of Events
and Public Holidays
N.B. These dates are
subject to change annually |
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New Year's Day
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Asou Skwe
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Masquerade
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Toes/Papa Djab
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Cricket Season
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Calypso
Calypso tents are a major attraction during Calypso season. Each tent is
comprised of a number of calypsonians who organize a series of shows
leading up to the main calypso competition, to introduce the public to
their songs for the current year. There is a high level of audience
participation as a commentary on the people's acceptance or rejection of
the talent. Opening of Cricket season marks increased inter-community
activity. |
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Independence Day
Independence for St. Lucia was achieved in 1979. Historical symbolism is
treated with great pride by St. Lucia in conjuction with:
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Anniversary
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Calypso
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Carnival
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Ash Wednesday
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Lent/Kawem
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Kite Flying
The highlight of February is preparations for Carnival, a gala event
with activities held throughout St. Lucia. Various camps are set up for
the production of costumes for the many shows and street parades. Under
the guidance of designers and band leaders, individual and group
costumes are created for band members. Calypso tents are now in full
swing and contenders for the "King" and "Queen" crowns are now rising.
Short fun filled month. |
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Traditional Lent Period
Calmer tropical weather period supports many marine based activities. |
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All Fools' Day
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Lent
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Holy Week
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Good Friday
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Easter Sunday
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The days of Holy Week are the most solemn on the St. Lucian calendar.
The dominant Catholic traditions are most evident at this time,
particularly on Good Friday, a day of church services and restraint from
pleasurable things. Highlights of the meal on this day is "Akwa" or fish
cake, and pain d' espices (penepis), a thin oval biscuit. Easter Sunday
resembles Christmas Day with its church services, gift-giving and fetes.
End of lent season and season of abstinenence celebrated with dates and
banquets after forty day abstinence. |
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Labour Day
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Mother's Day
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World Famous Jazz Festival |
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African Liberation Day
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Whitsuntide
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Father's Day
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Fisherman's Feast/Fet Peche
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Corpus Christi
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St. Lucia Squash Open
The Fisherman's Feast begins with a church service, followed by the
blessing of gaily decorated boats and boat sheds on the beaches.
Feasting and merrymaking lasts the whole day into the early morning
hours. |
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St. Lucia Squash Open:
World renown squash players get together with
amateurs for a casual but very competitve event. |
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July -
September |
Kids' Safari Summer.
This event brings together local and visiting
children, between the ages of 5 to 18, to learn about St. Lucia's
environment, nature, folk traditions and history. Activities include
hiking, canoeing, craft making, birdwatching and photography.
Traditional Holiday period for students:
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Round-island field trips
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Kid's Safari Summer
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Various community day celebrations
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Fisherman's feast
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Emancipation Day
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Fet Wivandez/Market Vendors Feast
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Fet La Woz/The Rose Festival
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Major Flower Festival
The market vendors celebrate their feast day with a religious service,
followed by a festival of food, song, dance and general merriment in the
island's various markets. The Castries market is usually the main center
of activities. The Rose Festival honours the rose with great pomp and
ceremony, including a royal kingdom complete with king, queen,
dignitaries and loyal subjects. There is a grand party at which no
expense is spared to make the day successful. The Market Vendor's Feast
brings out vivid cultural expressions. |
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Thanksgiving Day
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Jounen Kweyol
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Entennasyonal (International Creole Day)
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Bill Fish Tournament
On International Creole Day, St. Lucians join hands with kweyol-speaking
people around the world in solidarity and in celebration of their
exciting common culture. Special activities include preparation of
traditional foods, exhibitions of traditional items and folklore. |
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Jounen Kweyol celebrated in different communites where kweyol speaking
people congreate to enjoy traditional foods, folklore, and other
traditional exhibitions. |
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All Saints Day
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All Souls Day (Fet Le Mo)
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Remembrance Day
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St. Cecilia's Day
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ARC - major yacht event
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International Food Fair
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On All Souls Day, St. Lucians remember their departed loved by keeping a
vigil lamp burning in their homes, beautifying cemeteries, repainting
tombs and laying fresh flowers or wreaths on graves. Remembrance Day
honors those who fought in the two World Wars with wreaths, ceremonial
parades and parties. Poppies and stickers are sold to help aid families
of ex-servicemen. St. Cecilia's Day honors the patron saint of music and
musicians with a church service, street music and sporting events for
musicians. At ARC, the major yacht event, boaters can enjoy fine
facilities available to yachters. |
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National Day
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National Day Festivals
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Christmas Day
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Masquerade
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Legends Tournament
December in St. Lucia is a month-long festival, revolving around
National Day celebrations and the Christmas season. The focus on
National Day is building pride in the country with sporting, cultural,
religious, social, and commercial activities, such as the Festival of
Lights, featuring a lantern-making competition and the decoration of
towns and villages with lights. Other events include the National
festival of choirs, a festival of bands and a market festival akin to
the market vendors feast day. |
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For more information about events taking place through out the year
visit:
http://www.stlucia.org
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