La Rose and La Marguerite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

La Rose and La Marguerite are societies on the island of Saint Lucia. Ostensibly based around singing the virtues of the rose and marguerite flowers, the societies are intense rivals, and their membership includes most of the population of the island.

The Structure of the Societies
The Roses and the Marguerites are really floral societies into which members of the St. Lucian community divide themselves. Both groups are hierarchically structured with a king and a queen as head of the society and other dignitaries patterned upon the socio-economic structure of colonial society. There are also princes, princesses and other pseudo legal, military and professional personnel, including judges, policemen, nurses, soldiers. The element of role performance or masquerading is evident from this internal structure.

The Festivals
Preparations for the festivals begin several months before the actual feast day. August 30th for the "Roses" and October 17th for the "Marguerites". Each group holds "seances". These consist of all night singing and dancing sessions where drinks are sold and games are played.

The central figure at the "seances" is the "Shatwel" or leadsinger who sustains the spirit and tenor of the entertainment. Most groups have one outstanding "shatwel". They are usually female. On the actual day of the festival all members of the society dress in the finery of their respective roles and march to Church for a service which precedes their parade through the streets before returning to the hall for their feasting or "grande fete"

Today the flower festivals which are unique to St. Lucia assume a preeminent place in the cultural life and history of the country.

[edit] References

• Crowley, Daniel J. (October-December 1958). "La Rose and La Marguerite Societies in St. Lucia". Journal of American Folklore 71 (282): pp. 541–552. doi:10.2307/537460. 

Anthony, Patrick A.B. (1985). The flower festivals of St. Lucia. Folk Research Centre: St. Lucia