December 13th marks Saint Lucia’s annual National Day celebrations and once again patriotic Saint Lucians are all eagerly geared up to usher in the colourful and exciting festivities, welcoming the 2015 ‘Christmas spirit’ and holiday cheer, while simultaneously ‘lighting up the town’.
Saint Lucia is named after its patron Saint, St. Lucy, and December 13th is annually celebrated as National Day. Observed the night before the holiday is the National Festival of Lights and Renewal in honour of St. Lucy of Syracuse who is also the saint of light. As part of the celebrations, decorative lights, mostly represented with a Christmas theme, are lit in Castries, the capital city.
The central point of all the action over the years has been the landmark Derek Walcott Square. However, in recent years the festival of lights has taken place at the Castries waterfront along the John Compton Highway.
Artisans proudly showcase and present beautifully decorated lanterns for competition and the official activities usually culminate with a magnificent fireworks display.
It was once a custom for a ‘jour ouvert’ (day opening) celebration to energetically usher in the sunrise of the morning of December 13th of each year.
