Traditionally, Saint Lucia’s Christmas starts with celebrations around the Feast of Saint Lucia – what has always been known as our National Day – December 13th, the feast day of Saint Lucia, patron saint of light.
Ask your favourite taxi to take you to the lovely community of Mon Repos for the evening on December 9th: About an hour’s drive from Rodney Bay, Mon Repos is a beautiful community on the East Coast of the island – you will find yourself in a truly Lucian setting.
Be there for 6:30pm for the Tree Lightning Ceremony on the Mon Repos Community Centre Grounds. There’ll be caroling, steel pan music and a procession led by a traditional Séwénal band and lantern bearers to the R.C. Church of St. Anne.
Once at the church, the St. Anne Choir, Past the Hour, Darlene Anius, Vision, Yanette “Oshun” James, the Cecilian Rays and Wesley Austin will be among those who will lead the congregation in joyful singing at the Festival of Carols from 7:30 p.m.
Then on the eve of our National Day, Wednesday December 12th, from 6:00 p.m. the streets of Castries will be lit with a brilliant display of Saint Lucian traditions – drumming, bamboo bursting, lantern bearers, fire eaters, stilt-walkers along with the ECRC bikers.
During the night’s ceremony, the city’s Christmas lights will be switched on, the walls of the Central Library and RBTT Bank will come alive with light displays and crowds will be entertained by Saint Lucian artistes including Ras Africa, TC Brown, Invader, Michael Robinson, AVAD and the Silver Shadow Performing Arts Academy.
The night’s celebrations will come to a sparkling end with the traditional fireworks display – this also marks the official start of National Day activities.
And here’s a calendar with more of the National Day activities around this time
How to Get There
Mon Repos – follow this LINK for St. Anne’s Church
Derek Walcott Square – follow this LINK
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