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Gommier Festival is Back – Traditional ‘Carib’ Canoes

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authentic saint lucian traditions, christmas festival, national day festival gommier canoes, things to do in st lucia near Sandals, Royalton, Cap Maison, Body Holiday Le Sport
Around December 13th each year, Saint Lucia and Martinique come together to celebrate the Gommier Festival – subscribe to our once-monthly newsletter to receive info on each year’s activities.
The Gommier or in Creole (en Kwéyòl) Gonmyé is a large rainforest tree traditionally used by the islands’ indigenous populations, to carve out canoes – called Kannòt in 
Kwéyòl. Saint Lucia remains the only island that still makes a small number of these vessels, mostly, if not only, in the tiny fishing village of Praslin.
traditional boatbuilding in the caribbean gommier festival
The roughly carved out trunk of the Gonmyé benni tree is steamed over a slow fire with fallen dry coconuts. During this time, the hull is stretched into a wider shape. Praslin, Saint Lucia. These traditional fishing vessels originating from the ‘Caribs’ and ‘Arawaks’ are still used in Saint Lucia for seinne fishing
what to do in st lucia, national day celebrations, arc atlantic rally for cruisers Head to the town of Gros Islet to take part in the Gommier Festival 2018 near royalton, sandals
Head to the town of Gros Islet to take part in the Gommier Festival 2018

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Authentic Saint Lucian

Gommier Festiv…

by Finola Jennings Clark time to read: 1 min
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