Today, December 13, marks National Day in Saint Lucia – the “Festival of Lights & Renewal”.
The day is traditionally preceded by a series of early December events, including the annual lantern competition, the lantern parade on the eve of National Day, and the Festival of Lights, which brings early Christmas activities to Castries and towns across the island.
The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority describes National Day observances as a moment that recognises “the triumph of light over darkness, good overcoming evil, and the renewal of life”.
Beyond the modern celebrations, National Day is also believed to be steeped in its colonial roots, honouring Saint Lucy (or Saint Luce), the patron saint of light, after whom the nation is widely believed to have been named.
Saint Lucy of Syracuse is said to have been a Christian martyr from 3rd-century Sicily whose feast day is December 13. She was said to have been executed in 304 AD during Roman persecution of Christians, and her legacy has been observed for centuries in parts of Europe.
Some historians and cultural commentators also point to longstanding accounts that European sailors may have been shipwrecked on the island on December 13 and named it in her honour, erasing the name Ianoula (meaning ‘there where the iguana is found’), once used by the indigenous population that populated the country.
Over time, December 13 commemorations evolved, blending religious roots with local culture and a stronger sense of national identity. However, symbols of faith and renewal have remained.
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