Traditions of Castries
The capital of Saint Lucia, with La Rose and La Marguerite flower societies and Creole Heritage Month in October.
Castries is a harbour city set among green hills. Saint Lucia's French and African Creole heritage is vivid in its two rival flower societies, La Rose and La Marguerite, which hold festival days in August and October with songs, dance and costumes, and in Kwéyòl, the island's French-based language.
The flower societies and Jounen Kwéyòl
On the festival days, members wear lavish costumes of the Rose or Marguerite, march behind a queen and sing in Kwéyòl. Jounen Kwéyòl, Creole Day, on the last Sunday in October, is a celebration of language, dress and cooking. Carnival comes in July.
At the table
Green fig and saltfish, boiled green banana with salted cod, is the national dish. Bakes, roti, bouyon soup, and breadfruit are common. Cocoa tea, a hot chocolate drink with spices, is the breakfast. Piton beer and rum punch are drunk.
Signature traditions of Castries
Also part of it, and being written: La Rose and La Marguerite (The flower societies.), Saltfish (The dish.), Saint Lucian Creole (The language.).
A trail idea for Castries
- Castries Market Visit on Saturday.
- Derek Walcott Square See the cathedral.
- Morne Fortune Take in the view.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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