While she notes governments have a part to play in the development of these festivities, she highlights the role families, communities, and youth play in celebrating the culture. Joseph appeals to citizens to see the value in cultural activities as not only money-making machines. Ò
“When you look at the demographics of the persons who are there, the elderly folk, and you ask what keeps people alive and gives them purpose, you can say the flower festivals do that,” she notes. She stresses the importance of investment in advancing the celebrations. “The question is what kind of vision we have for La Rose and La Marguerite, ten, fifteen years from now. The quality of our festivals depends on the quality of investments we have; in terms of education, worship, into a number of things.”
Joseph says the flower societies are important markers of Saint Lucian independence and emancipation. “Is it that we want to allow Saint Lucians, young and old, to learn their own background, own language, music, and tradition. We value things that earn us money, not necessarily because of the intrinsic value something has. We have to ensure that it’s a celebration of our independence and our emancipation.” Saint Lucia currently celebrates its emancipation with a host of activities which started on August 1st, 2023. The government has committed to ensure all aspects of the nation’s culture are preserved and celebrated in a grandiose way. An emancipation mural on the CDC buildings in Castries is currently being painted by local painters and will be unveiled on August 24, 2023. The plans for the island’s Creole Heritage Month will be announced towards the start of September.
Joseph reminds the public of the true meaning of the flower festivals. “The flower societies represent the fact that Saint Lucians created their own communities - they have kings and queens and if you really analyse things, this would not have been the norm entrenched in a slave society. To speak the language of Creole is to speak resistance - unity, strength, and whatever power the people have.”
The La Woz celebrations culminate on August 30th, with a mass at the St. Joseph the Worker Church in Gros Islet at 10:30am.