Now that celebration for the feast of Saint Cecilia or feast of musicians is over, the Christmas season has officially begun. The arrival of the month of December means that the countdown to the end of another year, is on. The December Festivals, hosted by the Cultural Development Foundation, are a series of traditional and historical festivals which bring Saint Lucians together in the spirit of community through artistic creativity with the use of light – a symbol of rebirth.
Three (3) major events make up the December Festivals – the Lantern Festival, the Festival of Carols and the Festival of Light. The traditional Lantern Festival showcases creative mastery and will take place at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday December 6th, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. Pre-judging for the competition commences at 12:30 p.m. Lantern-making workshops which were facilitated in Castries and Desruisseaux (November 8th – 29th) and in Laborie (November 16th – 23rd) will continue as Saint Lucians interested in keeping that tradition alive, hone their skills in the art.
On Sunday December 7th, the Saint Joseph, the Worker Roman Catholic Church in Gros Islet will be the venue for the Festival of Carols. From 7:00 p.m., Just Us Choir, the Cathedral Junior Choir, the Labayee Choir, the Charles Cadet Orchestra, Shayne Ross and Ann Marie Headley, among others, will raise their voices in heavenly chorus, in what is expected to be a spirit-filled gathering.
On Friday December 12th, the highly anticipated Festival of Light will commence with a themed concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Derek Walcott Square, incorporating music, dancing, drama and of course, lights. Lanterns from the lantern competition on December 6th, will be hung around the square for public admiration throughout the evening.
The conventional “switching on of the lights” will take place at 9:30 p.m. after which a celebratory fireworks display is expected. Street masqueraders accompanied by a live band will parade from the Derek Walcott Square to the Castries Harbour to participate in the releasing of goodwill lanterns. Lanterns, which cost five dollars ($5) are available now for purchase at the Cultural Development Foundation. Lanterns will also be sold at the venue for participation in a procession to the Castries Harbour for a ritual of floating lanterns or for decorating homes over the season.