St. Lucian Creole - Festivals - Scenery

1. SAINT LUCIA
"The Land, The People, The Light"

3. Saint Lucia (French: Sainte-Lucie) is
a sovereign island country in the
eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the
Atlantic Ocean
Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located
north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent,
northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique.

5. ST. LUCIA
• Capital (and largest city): Castries
• Official language: English
• Vernacular language: St. Lucian French
Creole -spoken by 95% of the population-

6. • Saint Lucian Creole French (Kwéyòl), is
colloquially referred to as "Patwah" (Patois)
• This Antillean Creole is used in literature and music,
and is gaining official acknowledgement.
• As it developed during the early period of French
colonization, the creole is derived chiefly from
French and West African languages, with some
vocabulary from Carib and other sources.

7. The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is
more mountainous than many other
Caribbean islands.
Saint Lucia is also one of the few
islands in the world that boasts a drivein volcano.

9. St. Lucia was the site of a fierce power struggle between the Carib
and Arawak Indians. Later, the English and French also fought for
the island. It was governed 14 years, 7 by each,
In the end, the British gained control of St. Lucia, which is considered
to be one of the Caribbean's most beautiful islands.
Due to British colonization, the official language here is English. But
other cultural influences still linger.
The cultural heritage of St. Lucia played a large part in the language its
inhabitants now speak.
Elements of Carib and Arawak, along with a heavy French influence,
created the island's patois. While locals on St. Lucia speak this unique
dialect, they also know English.

10. Basic conversation in Creole
English
Creole
Good morning
bonmaten
Good afternoon
bon lapwè midi
Good evening
bonswè
Good night (use when going
to sleep)
bon lanwit
Hello
bonjou
Please
souplé
Thanks
mèsi
How are you?
sa'w fè
I am fine
mwen-la (I dey)
I am fine
mwen byen
I am fine thank you
mwen byen mèsi
See you later!
pli ta!
Call me!
kriyé mwen!

11. The Culture of Saint Lucia blends the influences of African, French,
and English heritage.
CULTURE OF SAINT LUCIA

12. FESTIVALS
St. Lucia holds every year two main traditional festivals,
La Woz ("The Rose", on August 30) and La Magwit
("The Marguerite", on October 17), organized by the two
rival historic cultural associations(societés).

14. • Saint Lucia also celebrates a cultural
festival known as Jounen Kweyol
(Creole Day).
• Most people commemorate this day by
wearing the island's national wear known
as the Madras.

15. http://stlucia-guide.info/travel.basics/languages/
www.tntisland.com/patois.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaintLucia