August 30, 2016
Vive La Wòz!
By Programme Assistant/Membership
Melissa Mc Lauren
The Western Youth Chapter of the Saint
Lucia National Trust (SLNT) celebrated
the La Rose (La Wòz) Festival which
coincides with the feast of Saint Rose De
Lima on August 30. To keep this cultural
tradition alive, the Cultural Development
Foundation (CDF) organizes a church
service with a parade and Gwan Fèt with
participation from all La Rose groups
from across the island on this feast day,
displaying pageantry reminiscent of
European court. In reference to La Rose
and La Marguerite, according to CDF’s
website, “The Saint Lucian Flower festivals are the invention of the peasant class who stage a
parody of the social superiors”.
This year the La Rose Festival took place in the beautiful rural community of Belle Vue, Vieux
Fort with a lively church service at the St. Isidore Roman Catholic Church. On arrival at
the church the SLNT Youth Group was welcomed by a spiritually celebratory atmosphere;
electrified by singing and dancing. Mock Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses adorned in
vibrant red and gold colors filled the pews, escorted by their military, legal and service
personnel. The lead singers (chantwèl/chantè) were outstanding and they took it upon themselves
to keep the congregation engaged in the service with Creole songs accompanied by the band
which included their drums, banjos, shak-shaks and violins. Father Ignatius Cetoute, the
officiating Priest was pleased to be conducting the service and prayed that our people along with
the responsible agencies continue
their efforts to keep the culture and
history of Saint Lucia alive.
At the end of the church service,
groups excitedly showed off their
costumes as they marched through
the community to the Belle Vue
Combined School. It was a
wonderful sight to see boys and
girls as well as young and older
adults dressed up magnificently in
a range of pink, red, white, gold
and silver robes and other regalia, singing and dancing along the village road. Our cultural
heritage is in good hands if we continue to appreciate and support the efforts of the flower
societies with the assistance of agencies such as the Cultural Development Foundation in their
quest to keep Saint Lucian traditions alive.