October is Creole Heritage Month in St. Lucia
October is designated as Creole Heritage Month on our beautiful island, heralding the call for nationals and visitors alike to celebrate those things uniquely St.Lucian. In business places around the island one will see traditional items on display, including the widespread use of Madras cloth in décor from office buildings and homes, stores and boutiques, to boutonnières worn on the lapel, representing the Creole tradition.
Creole food is widely prepared and sold in restaurants while major chefs throughout the island will find creative uses for local fruits and vegetables to give their menus a Creole flair.
Throughout the month there are various performances such as storytelling, dances, plays and cultural music all performed in the island’s native Creole language known as “French Creole” or “Patois”. The national “Walaba Competition”, an indigenous variation of the game of cricket is usually held in a chosen rural community and is a day for family and fun.
Creole heritage month culminates with “Jounen Kweyol” or Creole Day, which is perhaps the most widely celebrated event on island after St. Lucia carnival and the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival. This day is usually the Sunday closest to the 28th of October each year. St. Lucians dress in the national costume of Madras or the more elegant “Wobe Dwiete” and journey from village to village to partake in the celebrations. The chance to sample authentic Creole food and glimpse the way of life of our forefathers has a powerful allure and it isn’t uncommon for persons to leave their homes as early as 6am en route to the different communities. After having breakfast at their first stop they will proceed in turn to each participating community taking in as much as they can of this celebration.